Britain’s least-popular rail company has apologised to a seven-year-old girl who passed out after being crushed on an overcrowded carriage.

Passengers on the First Great Western service were so tightly packed that Laura Booth was wedged upright even though she had gone limp. An off-duty nurse was unable to reach her from the other side of the compartment.

For 12 minutes Laura’s grandfather and other passengers tried to make space to lay her down but they were unable even to reach a seat. It was only when the train arrived at the next station that they were able to help her.

Although she suffered no long-term ill-effects she has frequent flashbacks and is terrified that she will have to travel by train again one day.

She said: “It was hot and I felt sick. I was very scared and worried. It gives me bad dreams. I don’t want to go on a train ever again.”

Laura, who is 3ft tall, and her ten-year-old sister Rachael, had been taken to see a pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Bath, by her grandfather, Mike Pearce, 54. Mr Pearce estimates that there were more than 400 people on the platform when the 5.07pm service to Trowbridge pulled into Bath station.

Although it was one of the busiest weekends of the year, with Christmas shoppers mingling with rugby supporters after a home game, there were only two carriages. Many passengers were unable to get on and Mr Pearce and the girls thought they were the lucky ones until they realised that there was not even room to turn round.

Mr Pearce said: “I was terrified. Words can’t describe the conditions. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder and pressed up against the windows.

“I used all my force to try and give Laura some space. As she passed out I remember thinking, ‘Oh my god, I’m losing my granddaughter’. She was a dead weight and her body had gone completely limp.

“It was the last Saturday before Christmas, Bath rugby team were playing at home and the carriages were already almost full with passengers from Bristol.

“FGW knew it was going to be busy. It’s touching that so many people tried to help, but nobody could in those conditions. Lives are being put in danger as we were being treated like cattle.”

Laura was taken off the train at Bradford-on-Avon and quickly regained consciousness in the fresh air. Her parents, Travey and Colin, complained to the train operator and were offered a free train journey by way of compensation.

Mrs Booth said: “It’s like some kind of a sick joke. She’s still terrified by what happened and wakes up crying in the night. She’ll never set foot on a train again.”

Lance Cole, FGW’s communications manager, apologised and said a full investigation would be carried out. He said: “We are very sorry to hear that this has happened. 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.”

A survey carried out by the rail watchdog Passenger Focus this week found that FGW had the lowest approval rating of any operator in the country. One in four passengers complained about the service. FGW announced increased compensation for delays and cancellations this week but commuters are holding a second “fare strike” protest on Monday.

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Panto trip turns into train ordeal

Wiltshire Times: 25th January 2008
By Benjamin Parkes

Laura with her granddad Mike Pearce

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.
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"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 Haines.

"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.