Passenger removal

[saismee]

Exactly. They are just feeding the fire.

And potentially putting a child at risk. Well intentioned, but they tend to give ME the abuse because I'm "not helping a child in need"... and giving them unrestricted access to a train network is?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Tangentially; but I was on a Stagecoach bus in Northampton when two teenagers boarded, didn't pay, and sat down inside. The driver switched off the engine and said, 'I won't move until you get off''.
Seemed like an impasse until a VERY big & muscular man came downstairs and stood over them with the message. 'You are delaying my journey to work. If I'm late for work I lose an hour's pay. I will be very angry if this happens!' (he was speaking quite calmly). The two teenagers decided not to call his bluff and scooted.
I don't think it would have worked so well if I had tried that approach, though.

 

[saismee]

Tangentially; but I was on a Stagecoach bus in Northampton when two teenagers boarded, didn't pay, and sat down inside. The driver switched off the engine and said, 'I won't move until you get off''.
Seemed like an impasse until a VERY big & muscular man came downstairs and stood over them with the message. 'You are delaying my journey to work. If I'm late for work I lose an hour's pay. I will be very angry if this happens!' (he was speaking quite calmly). The two teenagers decided not to call his bluff and scooted.
I don't think it would have worked so well if I had tried that approach, though.

I think using your stature to intimidate people is very bad in day-to-day life. Putting scrotes in their place is fine though

 

[bramling]

I remember seeing a member of platform staff at Kings Cross getting increasingly frustrated and slightly angry with a passenger who was calmly challenging him on why the platform was still not displayed despite the train being there & the due time being reached.

I’ve had a couple of run-ins with staff at King’s Cross in similar situations over the last couple of years, which is unfortunate as KX always tended to be a rather chilled station from the point of view of how it is run, contrasting favourably to somewhere like Euston.

Firstly if the train is signalled into the platform then I don’t expect to be told that “there’s no train from here”, and secondly I don’t respond well to people calling “hello” which I take as a rather rude and patronising way of trying to get someone’s attention.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2026 ==

Tangentially; but I was on a Stagecoach bus in Northampton when two teenagers boarded, didn't pay, and sat down inside. The driver switched off the engine and said, 'I won't move until you get off''.
Seemed like an impasse until a VERY big & muscular man came downstairs and stood over them with the message. 'You are delaying my journey to work. If I'm late for work I lose an hour's pay. I will be very angry if this happens!' (he was speaking quite calmly). The two teenagers decided not to call his bluff and scooted.
I don't think it would have worked so well if I had tried that approach, though.

The problem is, it’s all very well until the teenagers respond with “go on then, what are you going to do?”. In a world with CCTV and camera phones it would be problematic for the muscular guy to be “very angry”, whatever that might mean. Indeed there would no doubt be people queuing up on here to post about how awful it is that someone has assaulted two teenagers.

It isn’t really a good look for staff to goad other passengers into resolving situations for them, and likewise holding a whole train (or bus, or whatever) of people to ransom over an issue that’s nothing to do with them. As ever, a balance has to be struck, the infamous Scotrail guard went too far IMO - “they will be angry, I’m getting paid for this, they’re not” is not a professional way to deal with a situation.

 

[TUC]

Oh absolutely, I'd never tell someone to calm down without attempting to offer a resolution or reassurance first, unless they're already getting abusive and I'm firmly felling them to stand back and lower their voice.

Most of the situations I find are that people are justifiably angry at serious delays, but their anger is channelled into "open the gates you [...]" because they're grumpy that they have to take an extra 30 seconds to queue and scan their ticket before leaving.i

Isn't scanning a ticket when leaving just part of normal life at most gated stations now? I rarely see anyone angry at Leeds or Kings Cross when needing to do it,

 

[Ian Hardy]

Isn't scanning a ticket when leaving just part of normal life at most gated stations now? I rarely see anyone angry at Leeds or Kings Cross when needing to do it,

There really annoy thing is when people work up to the barriers and then stop and then sort out get things ready to go through the barriers, blocking the exit while they do it.

 

[Merle Haggard]

snip


The problem is, it’s all very well until the teenagers respond with “go on then, what are you going to do?”. In a world with CCTV and camera phones it would be problematic for the muscular guy to be “very angry”, whatever that might mean. Indeed there would no doubt be people queuing up on here to post about how awful it is that someone has assaulted two teenagers.

In my retirement dotage I worked for an events company - mainly driving staff buses.

I learned that, when working in areas covered by CCTV that doesn't record sound, it's very important that security people have very friendly body language, open hands and smiley when they're talking to troublemakers.
Saying quietly something that is far from friendly at the same time is however another matter...

 

[35B]

I think using your stature to intimidate people is very bad in day-to-day life. Putting scrotes in their place is fine though

I use my height (6'6") in everyday situations because it offers me an advantage. But in this kind of situation, I don't want to escalate the tension - it won't help anyone

 

[bramling]

I use my height (6'6") in everyday situations because it offers me an advantage. But in this kind of situation, I don't want to escalate the tension - it won't help anyone

Must admit, I’ve always noticed a conspicuous difference between wearing gym / rugby / rowing gear versus normal clothing, and even more so if carrying a bag of gear round. It does seem to invite people to keep an element of distance.

 

[dk1]

And potentially putting a child at risk. Well intentioned, but they tend to give ME the abuse because I'm "not helping a child in need"... and giving them unrestricted access to a train network is?

I don’t feel your sympathy. The person I dealt with that day was 30ish.

 

[saismee]

I don’t feel your sympathy. The person I dealt with that day was 30ish.

Ah. Buying a 30-something year old a ticket is ridiculous.

 

[Dave61]

My personal view is that the obviously intoxicated or abusive should not be allowed on public transport, and at periods when there are likley to be a lot around there should be either BTP at stations or the normal police at busy bus stops/stations to enforce it.

Obviously they cant be everywhere or all the time

That would have been me left at Birmingham New Street a month ago then ! I could barely walk in a straight line but thankfully I am one of those who will find a seat and quietly sit there wondering why the carriaige is slowly rotating around

 

[dk1]

Ah. Buying a 30-something year old a ticket is ridiculous.

Buying anyone a ticket is if they are working for the underworld.

 

[MP33]

I bought a coat and shortly afterwards Greater Anglia changed to something very similar. I thought that, someone thinking of entering first class and seeing the coat hanging up. Had a change of plan.

 

[Trackman]

In this thread, we don't know what happened, so they could have been other factors.

Only occasion I've seen BTP waiting for someone I think was at Stoke.
He was ticketless and sat in First, the TM told him to move and buy a ticket which they couldn't so moved him to standard.
TM was puzzled how they got onboard without a ticket check and the pax admits trespassing, from what I remember 'Jumping over a fence and crossing the tracks'
I think it was Stoke where is stopped, but as the train entered the TM was on the phone to BTP again, they were asking which door the pax was leaving by, in fact he was with the TM at the same door.

 

[John Luxton]

This is the most infuriating one when it comes to obvious county lines drug runners/kids trying it on. No, they aren't stranded and trying to get home, they may well be trying to run away!

I observed a strange incident on a Penzance to Plymouth train a couple of years ago.

Train stops at Menheniot and two young lads board aged around 12.

Conductor comes around and asks where they are going to.

They answered London and told him they had no money and couldn't buy a ticket.

Conductor told them they couldn't go to London and they would have to get off the train at Plymouth before he wandering off.

As the train rolled in to Plymouth a unformed PC along with a lady who may well have been either a plain clothes PC or someone from social services were awaiting them on the platform. - They didn't get far - conductor had obviously phoned in.

 

[dk1]

I observed a strange incident on a Penzance to Plymouth train a couple of years ago.

Train stops at Menheniot and two young lads board aged around 12.

Conductor comes around and asks where they are going to.

They answered London and told him they had no money and couldn't buy a ticket.

Conductor told them they couldn't go to London and they would have to get off the train at Plymouth before he wandering off.

As the train rolled in to Plymouth a unformed PC along with a lady who may well have been either a plain clothes PC or someone from social services were awaiting them on the platform. - They didn't get far - conductor had obviously phoned in.

Yes that’s a common scenario.

 

[Krokodil]

And that's the best way to handle a possible runaway or county lines kid. You don't want to scare them into getting off and scarpering before you can arrange for someone to intercept them.

 

[saismee]

Yes that’s a common scenario.

Exactly what I was thinking while reading it.

 

[John Luxton]

Yes that’s a common scenario.

Well first time I have ever seen something like this. Back in my day when I was their age I would probably still have had an adult with me and was brought up to understand that you had to buy a ticket and if you couldn't afford it well that was it you couldn't go! - I guess things have moved on ...

 

[BeijingDave]

For this reason, I saw on a documentary that county lines gangs often buy their runners first class tickets (partly as a perk, partly so they won't get in needless trouble with authority when they have more 'important' stuff to do), but this also now attracts attention.

 

[TUC]

Individual may have tourettes which is an acceptable reason

What are you saying? That parents with children hearing ongoing bad language should just put up with it, or that staff should just accept bad language being used at them?

 

[35B]

What are you saying? That parents with children hearing ongoing bad language should just put up with it, or that staff should just accept bad language being used at them?

As we saw with the incident at the BAFTA Awards, Tourette’s can cause real offence while having no ill motivation - the bad language is not used at people. It’s an exceptional case, which needs to be handled sensitively. And as in my 51 years on this planet, I’ve never knowingly encountered someone with Tourette’s, or even exhibiting the symptoms, I’d regard it as an exception.

 

[dk1]

As we saw with the incident at the BAFTA Awards, Tourette’s can cause real offence while having no ill motivation - the bad language is not used at people. It’s an exceptional case, which needs to be handled sensitively. And as in my 51 years on this planet, I’ve never knowingly encountered someone with Tourette’s, or even exhibiting the symptoms, I’d regard it as an exception.

One of if not my favourite film of 2025. Just a shame they depicted a Scotrail train at Sheffield/Nottingham.

 

[TUC]

As we saw with the incident at the BAFTA Awards, Tourette’s can cause real offence while having no ill motivation - the bad language is not used at people. It’s an exceptional case, which needs to be handled sensitively. And as in my 51 years on this planet, I’ve never knowingly encountered someone with Tourette’s, or even exhibiting the symptoms, I’d regard it as an exception.

I'm just conscious there will have been people with Tourette's 30 or 50 years ago, but I don't remember it being raised as a reason to accept bad language being directed at staff or others.

 

[John Luxton]

I'm just conscious there will have been people with Tourette's 30 or 50 years ago, but I don't remember it being raised as a reason to accept bad language being directed at staff or others.

Is this also similar to the naughty child problem?

Now bad juvenile behaviour is medicalised rather than punished (sometimes physically) and suggestion of punishment is now frowned upon by some - but others (including myself) see it as part of societal decline through ill dicipline.

 

[MP33]

Regarding Drug Couriers being bought first class tickets. It used to be at some destinations, someone would be bought a first or business class ticket. To divert attention from the carrier of the bulk of the drugs. There would then be the sight at the Airport of a Hippy with a briefcase getting off the aeroplane.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Is this also similar to the naughty child problem?

Now bad juvenile behaviour is medicalised rather than punished (sometimes physically) and suggestion of punishment is now frowned upon by some - but others (including myself) see it as part of societal decline through ill dicipline.

I’m concerned that you’re likening Tourette’s to societal decline and generalising/dismissing mental health or medical conditions in children to the same.

Has parenting changed and different to what you’re likely accustomed to in your youth, very likely; yes.

Doesn’t mean awareness, conscientiousness and compassion haven’t declined also.

 

[TUC]

I’m concerned that you’re likening Tourette’s to societal decline and generalising/dismissing mental health or medical conditions in children to the same.

Has parenting changed and different to what you’re likely accustomed to in your youth, very likely; yes.

Doesn’t mean awareness, conscientiousness and compassion haven’t declined also.

But there's no inherent reason why today's approaches are necessarily right or better. (I'm not saying they're wrong either, but there's nothing inherently special about them.)

 

[John Luxton]

I’m concerned that you’re likening Tourette’s to societal decline and generalising/dismissing mental health or medical conditions in children to the same.

Has parenting changed and different to what you’re likely accustomed to in your youth, very likely; yes.

Doesn’t mean awareness, conscientiousness and compassion haven’t declined also

No I was just raising the point that poor behaviour in general is being medicalised rather than dealt with on other ways. I recall an interviewer on the Today programme some years ago putting that to someone.

Fact is poor behaviour whether there is medical or lack of discipline behind it make for unplesantness for passengers and rail staff.