Journalist Mariella Frostrup hits out at Great Western Railway after being forced to sit on train floor despite holding first-class ticket

MARIELLA Frostrup has hit out at train operator Great Western Railway (GWR) after being forced to sit on a train floor for a two-hour journey, despite holding a first-class ticket. 

The 61-year-old journalist was travelling on a packed service from Tiverton Parkway, Devon, to London Paddington on Saturday. 

Having purchased a pricier ticket in advance for what should have been a more relaxing and comfortable journey, Frostrup was still somehow left without a seat by the train operator. 

With the first-class carriage somehow providing standing room only, and with work still to be done, she had to resort to kneeling on the floor outside the toilet with her laptop propped on her bag. 

She shared photos of her uncomfortable situation to social media to flag the issue with GWR after apparently having had little luck with staff upon arrival. 

Ticket office staff reportedly shrugged her off with instructions to get in touch with the company and request compensation. 

Mariella first shared a selfie from her corner of the train vestibule, wedged in next to the door and looking unimpressed. 

She wrote: “New lows for ?GWR.? A first-class advance ticket buys you a seat on [the] floor outside the toilet in a train where it’s standing room from front to rear… 

“I’m getting back in my car.” 

Just over 90 minutes later, she shared an update, showing her kneeling under the door with a copy of the Times under her knee as a makeshift cushion. 

Her laptop can be seen balancing precariously on top of her rucksack. 

Despite the less-than-ideal setup, she is smiling, but possibly at how ridiculous the situation is. 

She wrote: “Well, GWR are taking flexible working quite literally – standing room only, even in first [class].” 

She shared the same image again after arriving at Paddington with the caption: “Is [this] photo proof [for] GWR that I’ve just sat on the floor from Tiverton Parkway to Paddington despite holding a first-class ticket?  

“I’ve just been told (after queuing at your Paddington ticket office for 15 mins) that I need to write and request compensation. Could you make it any harder?” 

Her post has since received over 9,800 likes and more than 650 comments from social media users keen to share their views. 

One said: “Absolutely appalling. They’ll put the fares up again in January, no doubt. What for in return? Sweet f**k all. Sardine/cattle carriage.” 

A second commented: “With the prices they charge I’m quite impressed anyone buys a first-class seat.  

“Standard economy GWR is daylight robbery, the fact there are ‘seats’ that are more expensive is just outrageous.” 

Another agreed: “Years ago I was told by GWR that the contract I entered into with them when purchasing a ticket was to [be] transported from A to B, not to have a seat.” 

A fourth wrote: “Could you make it any harder? Oh yes –we’ll lose your letter, refuse to answer the telephone, run you around in circles until you expire. Oh yes.” 

Another joked: “But you’re not sitting on the floor, you’re sitting on the Times. That’s almost like a leather orthopaedic recliner, pockets for crisps, tray for the wine, footrest and all.” 

The journey from Tiverton Parkway to London Paddington takes around two hours, with a first-class single ticket costing over £100 for most GWR services. 

Speaking today, a spokesperson for Great Western Railway said: “We are really sorry to hear of the customer’s experience. 

“If you have reserved a seat but are not able to sit down, you are entitled to compensation and we will follow this up.”