Paralympic champion Tanni Grey-Thompson has described how she was blocked from getting on a train after a passenger told a worker there wasn’t enough space for her and her wheelchair.
The peer said that the commuter had stopped her after making the claim to staff on the Virgin service that the carriage couldn’t accommodate her needs.
Ms Grey-Thompson said everyone else on the platform boarded – but she was forced to wait 15 minutes for the next train to complete her journey.
She added that she “was lost for words” over the alleged behaviour by the commuter, and it was only after she later thought about the incident that she got annoyed.
Ms Grey-Thompson revealed how she said she was treated by the passenger on the Virgin service through a series of tweets.
Revealing her complaint, she wrote: “Merry Christmas to the person on the train who just stopped me getting on. Told member of staff ‘there’s no room for her’. Everyone else waiting on the platform got on.”
Her post on the social media site sparked fury and received hundreds of likes and comments.
Ian Buckingham wrote: “They're paid to look after the passengers, Tanni. If they can't look after you, the very definition of a "national treasure" what hope is there for anyone else?”
Ms Grey-Thompson in one reply said: “I think staff member didn’t quite know what to do. Virgin staff are often fab. I was lost for words too. It was only afterwards that I got annoyed. Another train 15 mins behind.”
Gareth Pennington wrote: “Omg that's disgusting I hope the train staff ignored them.”
Ms Grey-Thompson replied: “Person wouldn’t move. Member of staff put in awkward position”, before adding: “Can I say member of staff at train station is lovely. They all are. Helpful.”
The former wheelchair racer, who has won 11 Gold medals, did not reveal any details of where she tried to board the train nor her final destination. She did not immediately respond to a request by The Independent for details.
A spokesman for Virgin Trains told The Independent: “We are glad that Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson thought our people were helpful but sorry for her experience nonetheless. We’ve tried to get in touch to see if there is anything else we can do.”
