ESSEX: Rail users fed up with 'yobs'

Rail users fed up with 'yobs'

RAIL users in Essex are fed up with “undesirable” youths abusing the rail network and its staff and have called for more to be done to tackle them.

Derek Monnery, of the Essex Rail Users' Federation, has urged network operator One to give more backing to its staff and rid the network of “difficult passengers” who make travelling a misery for other customers.

Mr Monnery said ticket selling and fare evasion was a problem in north Essex because stations were largely unmanned.

He said: “A culture has now become established among certain people in the Tendring villages that it is cool to take a free ride on the train because the chances of being caught are fairly minimal.”

He said these people often put their feet on the seats and flout no smoking laws - behaviour which discourages regular passengers from travelling.

He added: “These people have no respect for others and will launch a torrent of abuse at anyone who tries to comment on their behaviour.

“The ordinary train traveller despises this new culture and wants to see those who abuse the railways banned from taking the train.”

Members of the group have had talks with One and will have further discussions once the court case concerning sacked guard Paul Yarwood is resolved.

More than 800 RMT union-affiliated One employees are set to hold two 24-hour strikes across East Anglia later this month in support of Mr Yarwood, who was sacked following an alleged incident involving a fare dodger.

Frinton mayor Terry Allen said he too had been in touch with One about the problems and welcomed any efforts to stop the “nuisance, bad language and rowdiness” affecting the network.

Last night a spokesman for One said fare evasion and abusive behaviour were treated seriously and the company had carried out 14 successful prosecutions across the network so far this year.

He said: “We take all feedback from user groups seriously and use it constructively to help focus our efforts. If there are issues they flag up then we do respond to them.”

He said the company had just completed a £4million scheme to install CCTV cameras on trains and at stations and had recruited more than 40 extra conductors this year to ensure an increased presence.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police said that as an intelligence-led service it relied on information from the public to tackle such matters.

She said: “We would encourage anybody who sees any criminal or anti social behaviour to contact the BTP on 0800 405040 or, if they need urgent assistance, call 999.”

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