Minister Commends Public Spirit After Train Guard Confrontation
Defence Procurement Minister Luke Pollard has publicly praised the collective action of fellow passengers who joined forces to prevent an assault on a train guard during a recent journey from Bristol to Plymouth.
Incident Unfolds on Evening Service
The incident occurred on February 12th as Mr. Pollard was returning home from filming BBC Question Time in Bristol. The Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport witnessed two intoxicated passengers becoming confrontational when a train manager requested to see their tickets.
"After a stop or so, a drunk couple got on and when the train manager approached them for their train ticket, they started kicking off at the train manager and started pushing him," Mr. Pollard told The Sunday Mirror.
Collective Intervention Prevents Escalation
Mr. Pollard described how he and multiple other passengers intervened when the situation turned physical. "Together with other passengers we said stop, don't do that, and they reacted aggressively and started pushing the train manager, other passengers and having a go at me," he explained.
The minister revealed that the confrontation became particularly dangerous when "I had my water bottle in front of me taken off me and someone tried to swing it at my head."
Off-Duty Railway Staff Provide Crucial Assistance
Fortunately, the situation was brought under control thanks to what Mr. Pollard described as "the amazing work of not just the train crew, but some of the off-duty train staff from both Cross Country and Great Western Railway that were on board at the time."
This collaborative effort prevented further harm to the train manager and allowed police to be summoned. The disruptive couple reportedly pulled emergency cords during the incident, leaving the train stranded in a field when authorities arrived.
Minister Highlights Wider Issue of Transport Worker Safety
Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Pollard emphasized that "people should be able to do their jobs without being attacked" and expressed gratitude that intervention prevented more serious abuse of the train guard.
"What was really nice is that everyone around us in the carriage did something that made a difference," he noted. "It's just not acceptable to see that taking place, and I think you've got a choice when that's happening right in front of you. You can sit on your hands, or you can step up and intervene."
The minister added a concerning observation about increasing risks for railway staff: "It shouldn't happen, but it seems to happen to train guards and train managers more frequently than in the past, and that's not good enough."
Police Investigation Leads to Arrest
British Transport Police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which was reported at 9:06 PM on February 12th involving disruptive behavior on a Plymouth-bound service.
A spokesperson stated: "Officers attended and met the service at Worle railway station, where a 32-year-old woman was removed from the train and arrested on suspicion of assault, causing a public nuisance, and a public order offence. She was subsequently taken into custody where she remains."
The incident highlights both the vulnerability of public transport workers and the potential for collective passenger action to prevent violence in confined spaces.
