A passenger on a train to Manchester has been left traumatised after being trapped inside a toilet for nearly two hours. Robin Smith, 35, had to be cut out by firefighters after a malfunctioning automatic door left her stranded in the small compartment.
The incident occurred on a CrossCountry service from Southampton Central to Manchester Piccadilly last Saturday. Ms Smith, a keen athlete who is severely claustrophobic, said she almost fainted twice during the ordeal. She had booked an £89 ticket to travel north with her partner Angus Jones for a HYROX event.
After using the toilet, the electric doors refused to open. Staff were alerted but could not free her, and emergency levers inside and outside were broken. Ms Smith described chaotic scenes, with staff initially reluctant to call the fire service, citing the train's existing 1.5-hour delay.
Firefighters arrived at Oxford station and cut a hole in the door large enough for her to crawl through. Ms Smith praised their swift and professional response. A CrossCountry spokesperson apologised and said such incidents are rare, adding that staff are trained to deal with them safely.
