Passengers refuse to leave train at Cricklewood after it is taken out of service (From Times Series)

Passengers refuse to leave train at Cricklewood after it is taken out of service

1:22pm Friday 26th February 2010

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ANGRY commuters refused to leave a train being taken out of service this morning at Cricklewood station.

About 20 frustrated passengers stood their ground when told the Thameslink train was being taken out of service, causing a 30 minute stand off with staff before the train was reinstated.

The news is another blow for beleagured operator First Capital Connect, which is already facing calls to be stripped of their franchise on the line after a catalogue of delays and driver walk outs.

This morning's incidents happened after a train broke down in central London causing delays across the rest of the line.

The driver asked passengers to leave the service at Cricklewood just before 8am, but 20 passengers refused, despite repeated requests from staff and the driver over the public address system.

The train was reinstated after a 30 minute delay, and reports say the driver said “customer action worked” over the public address system as the train departed.

One passenger, Katie Lee, wrote on the I hate First Capital Connect Facebook page about her experience.

She said: “Score one for the commuter! Passengers this morning refused to get off cancelled train at Cricklewood, following problems at Farringdon.

“After a half an hour stand off, FCC realised that they weren't getting anywhere, and had to put the train back in service. All very good natured, but customer action was definitely taken.”

FCC spokesman Roger Perkins said: "The train came to a halt in Cricklewood and the driver would have made an announcement that it was going to terminate there.

"Twenty passengers would not get off the train and eventually, because of that, the train did then run.

"The effect of that is that it caused more delays to other people on other services up and down the line.

"When we do this it's not a decision we take lightly, it is for very good reason. It's about regulating the service and getting as many people into London as quickly as possible when we have a serious delay such as this."

Were you on the train or at Cricklewood station this morning? Leave your comments about your experience below.

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