Panto trip turns into train ordeal (From Wiltshire Times)

Panto trip turns into train ordeal

7:41am Friday 25th January 2008 in News By Benjamin Parkes

SEVEN-year-old Laura Booth jumped at the chance when she was offered a trip to a pantomime with her grandfather.

They travelled by train from Trowbridge to Bath and thoroughly enjoyed their outing. But Laura's treat turned into a nightmare.

On the journey back to Trowbridge the train was so packed with people that little Laura was crushed in a corner where she felt nauseous, then vomited and eventually lost consciousness.

Grandad Mike Pearce, 54, of Queens Road, Trowbridge, tried to give her space and air but the carriage was so crammed he found it difficult to help.

The guard worked his way along the train but couldn't do anything when he got to the helpless girl. She had fainted in an upright position and she remained unconscious until the train reached Bradford on Avon.

Mr Pearce said: "I grabbed Laura and barged through the crowd to get her off. We were only halfway home and wanted to get back to Trowbridge but she needed air and I had to get her off.

"When we got out into the fresh air she came round pretty quickly although she felt very scared and unhappy.

"My son stayed on the train and drove from Trowbridge to pick us up.

"Since the incident Laura has had nightmares about being crushed on the train. It has really affected her."

Mr Pearce, a self-employed carpenter and joiner, blames the train operator First Great Western for the incident on the 5.07pm service from Bath on December 22.

He said: "There were hundreds of people trying to board the train at Bath, standing three deep and filling the whole platform.

"FGW had put on two carriages, a ridiculous decision given that there was likely to be a Christmas rush anyway.

"The numbers boarding should have been limited. Even cattle would have been given more space."

Lance Cole, FGW communications manager said: "We are very sorry to hear that this has happened and this is being investigated personally by the chief operating officer Andrew Haimes.

"We are sorry that young Laura had this distressing experience. It must have been very upsetting for her and her family.

"We have offered her a day out using our trains that we hope will restore her faith in us and rail travel as a whole."

This week FGW announced customers would receive twice the normal amount of compensation when their trains are cancelled or delayed.

The gesture is designed to be an apology to regular customers who have suffered a poor service in the past 12 months.

On Monday, passengers plan a fare strike across the network during the morning rush hour.