TRAIN PASSENGERS CAUGHT WITH BAGS ON SEATS COULD FACE PENALTY CHARGE

Jobsworth train guards are making empty threats to slap customers with 'penalty charges' for leaving their bags on seats, it has emerged.

Customers have reported that rail workers are issuing warnings to passengers who put their luggage on seats during peak times when trains are packed.

But the risk passengers will be handed hefty fines for blocking chairs is next to none, train industry insiders have said.

National Rail has admitted it has no penalty process for passengers caught leaving luggage on unoccupied seats.

And although individual operators do have powers to give passengers an 'additional luggage charge' in practice, this is very rarely ever enacted.

Guidelines state that rail firms can restrict passengers to three pieces of luggage under the National Rail Conditions of Travel.

Travel operators may levy fees for putting bags on chairs, having more than three pieces on board or carrying luggage that is larger than one metre in any dimension.

However, rail firms say that they do not regularly enforce fines for this and instead the threats are a tactic to deter passengers from bad behaviour.

On crowded services, rail companies say that the threat of a penalty charge was a way to use 'humour' to stop selfish passengers from taking up room.

A GWR source told The Telegraph: 'I'm not aware of us ever implementing these charges and it would be difficult to manage. Industry rules are in place to provide people with guidance, but we have to rely on customers being responsible and applying common sense.'

Guards on Great Western Railway, which runs routes to South Wales and the west country, said: 'There's no such thing as a fine for bags on seats. Train managers do tend to find a bit of light humour is a pretty effective way of highlighting the issue and encouraging people to stow luggage more thoughtfully.'

The train operator said that staff are 'empowered' to deal with issue son board, including asking for luggage to be moved.

Comments on social media were quick to defend GWR, highlighting that on busy services some passengers are too 'polite' to move luggage and sit down.

Laura Mittens, from Wiltshire, said: 'Good on GWR for announcing that they'd charge anyone the price of an extra seat for putting luggage or coats/bags on seats whilst there are lots of people left standing on this five-carriage train to Penzance!'.

GWR cheekily replied on X that 'Seats are for bums.'

Other operators, including Govia Thameslink Railway and Southeastern said they did not have a ban in place for bags on seats but urged passengers to be aware of other travellers.

For train passengers, bags taking up space on available chairs is a common point of contention.

A passenger on a Stansted Express train said: 'On the train to London and having to stand because half the seats are taken up by baggage. Cases seem to have priority over passengers.'

Frequent train users also called on more guards to stand up for passengers and ask for bags to be moved.

2024-05-09T16:51:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd