Student fined £80 for 'sitting in wrong part of carriage' on packed train
A teenage student has been fined after being told that he was sitting in the wrong area of the train.
The 19-year-old, from Boston, Lincolnshire, had commuted for three hours to London, wanting to go to the office to see some colleagues, as he also has a job while studying.
But while onboard the Thameslink train to London Kings Cross, Theo Griffiths' troubles would begin.
The university student got onboard the incredibly crowded train, and saw that there was no place to sit.
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Even though he only had a standard ticket, he thought that he could use first-class seating, after he claimed messages said that the area could be used.
However, there was one key point that the Brit missed on his travels - it was only for first-class carriages in the rear of the train, not the front.
Due to this, he was fined £129.50 for being seated in the 'wrong first class', reduced to £79.50 if he paid within 21 days.
Reflecting on the events, he recalled: “The guard was very rude and hostile. Others who also got fined argued back, they got £100 and £150 fines.
“He couldn’t even answer me when I asked if the 21-day reduced penalty period paused if you appealed - he said he didn’t know.
“I should be able to scrape a bit from savings to pay, but it’s still entirely disproportionate."
He then took to X to complain directly to Thameslink, asking them to 'explain the difference from sitting in the back first class, where it’s allowed, to the front.'
They replied: “Hi Theo, are you able to advise where you boarded the train, what time and direction please?
“If the front, first class facilities were in action and you didn't hold a first class ticket then travelling in this portion of the train could result in a penalty fare.”
Their official website states that the first class carriages at the back are 'always declassified'.
This has been the case since 2016, when the trains entered service as the operator felt that the number of first class seating was too high, compared to when the trains were specified back in 2008.
But it's not for the sections in the front of the train, while some of the operator's trains don't have first class at all.
A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway said: “Rear first class compartments on Thameslink trains have been declassified since they entered service in 2016, to create more space for customers with regular tickets.
“We advertise this on the digital displays on board the train as well as on platform screens."
The spokesperson continued: “In line with the National Rail Conditions of Travel, if someone is travelling in first class with a standard class ticket then they may be subject to a Penalty Fare.
“This is £100 plus the price of the full single fare applicable for the intended journey, reduced to £50 plus the price of the single fare if paid with 21 days.
“No-one would think they were not in a first class compartment. It is clearly signposted both on the outside and inside of the carriage."
Thameslink also said that the station platform train describer boards states where first class is, with compartments looking 'very different', even being separated from the rest of the carriage.
Joshua Nair