Rail boss orders commuters OUT of first class on a late and packed train.

A train company boss has been slammed by passengers for spreading himself over two seats after stopping economy class passengers from entering first class.

Mark Boon - Operations Director of Southern Rail's parent company Govia Thameslink - told passengers to stay out of the carriage on a packed service, as he plonked his bag down in the next seat.

Passenger Emma Fitzpatrick took a photo of him with his things spread over two seats while other passengers had to squeeze into the rammed doorway of the adjoining carriage.

The photo sparked outrage among Southern Rail passengers on social media, many of whom have endured months of delays and strikes.

Hair stylist Ms Fitzpatrick, from Croydon, South London, said that she joined the train mid-route before it terminated at London Victoria.

The 33-year-old said that Mr Boon had a 'really awful manner' as he 'dismissively' turned passengers away from approximately 10 empty first-class seats on the train.

She confronted him about his behaviour as the train pulled into London Victoria, telling him: 'I can't believe what you've done today. You should be hanging your head in shame.'

Ms Fitzpatrick claims Mr Boon handed his business card out to passengers as he turned them away.

Sharing the photo on Twitter, Emma wrote: 'Totally shocked to see Govia Railway Head of Operations, Mark Boon, telling all commuters to stay out of an EMPTY First Class carriage on a LATE & very packed train this morning. Meanwhile he took up two seats in there.'

She continued: 'It was a London bound Southern Train that arrived into London Victoria at approx 11.45am this morning.

'I still can't believe it. He even handed his business card out to the people that he was turning away! Talk about rubbing salt into commuters' wounds.'

Describing her experience on the train, she added: 'I saw First Class had just two men sat in there, so lots of spare seats - around eight or 10 available. So I started squeezing past those stood up, to go and sit in there.

'But then a lady told me the man there - pointing at Mark Boon, had told her not to sit in there as she had gone to sit down.

'I couldn't believe it. Then she showed me the business card he had given her. I said, "You must be joking", but another female passenger nodded and said he had said the same to her.'





MailOnline