Stranded: Fury as passengers unable to board at Rasen station

A Market Rasen resident has spoken out after rail passengers have been '˜stranded yet again' at the town's train station.
Stranded yet again: At least a dozen rail passengers are left on the platform after being unable to board EMN-170220-134319001Stranded yet again: At least a dozen rail passengers are left on the platform after being unable to board EMN-170220-134319001
Stranded yet again: At least a dozen rail passengers are left on the platform after being unable to board EMN-170220-134319001

Paul Hiley contacted the Market Rasen Mail after ‘at least a dozen passengers’ were left ‘fuming and upset’ as the 12.03pm departure bound for Lincoln on Saturday, February 18, left without them.

Paul Hiley said the train, composed of a single carriage only, was overcrowded, and despite the guard’s best efforts there was insufficient room for passengers hoping to board at Market Rasen.

Mr Hiley said: “Mothers with babies and push chairs, passengers with vital onward connections and some elderly passengers were unable to board as a single carriage arrived with passengers already standing.

“The guard did his best to shuffle passengers to the middle of the carriage and squeeze more travellers in - but said ‘I don’t think we can fit you all in.’

“One grandparent told me his grandchildren had an onward connection to Kings Cross and were lucky to board.

“A young mother had promised her children a day out and had no alternative form of transport.

“Another young lady had the door slammed in her face as the train prepared to depart, with at least a dozen passengers left fuming and upset.

“One passenger asked the guard why on earth two carriages were not supplied for this busy service, but got no reply.

“One man told me ‘There are a lot of angry and disappointed travellers here this morning, and it just keeps happening.’”

An East Midlands Trains spokesperson said: “We are sorry that some passengers in Lincolnshire may have faced inconvenience on Saturday.

“The number of carriages made available for each train company are agreed with the Department for Transport at the start of every franchise.

“Every carriage within our whole fleet is already being used and we are therefore unable to provide any additional carriages on any of our weekend services at this time.

“We regularly review our timetable and take into account feedback from passengers and passenger demand to determine any measures can be taken to make improvements for the future.

However we are currently using all of our trains in the best way possible to 
balance out the competing demands across our network.”