Lincolnshire student fined £130 for sitting in wrong carriage of crowded Thameslink train

A student from Lincolnshire was given a penalty fare after sitting in a first class Thameslink carriage.

Theo Griffiths received a fine of £129.50 after he moved into a first class compartment of a crowded train.

The 19-year-old has since branded the fine as “wholly disproportionate”, explaining how himself and other passengers were caught up in the “confusion” over the use of first class carriages.

From Boston, Lincolnshire, Theo was travelling on a busy Thameslink train to London Kings Cross on December 10th 2024 as part of his course.

He was commuting the three hour journey from Boston to London to work to see his colleagues when the fine was given.

As the train was “very full”, Theo, who had a standard ticket, assumed he could use the first-class seating area, having seen previous messages that the area may be used.

According to Thameslink policy, this only applies to the rear first-class carriages and not the front where Griffiths was sat. This then resulted in a fine of £129.50, which is £100 plus the price of the full single fare applicable for the intended journey.

However, the amount due to be paid could be reduced to £79.50 if paid within 21 days — December 31st 2024.

Speaking to News Shopper, Theo explained how the staff on the train were “hostile” during their exchange. He said: “The guard was very rude and hostile. Others who also got fined argued back, they got £100 and £150 fines.

“He couldn’t even answer me when I asked if the 21-day reduced penalty period paused if you appealed — he said he didn’t know.”

Theo later took to X to attempt to resolve his complaint.

Hi @TLRailUK, I have been fined £79.50, along with most of the carriage this morning, for sitting in the front first class section

Please can you explain the difference from sitting in the back first class, where it’s allowed, to the front and how that it worth £79.50 pic.twitter.com/pllvbAYvi6

— theo 😜 (@Theo_Griffiths) December 10, 2024

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He asked Thameslink to “explain the difference from sitting in the back first class, where it’s allowed, to the front.”

Thameslink then went on to respond saying: “Hi Theo, are you able to advise where you boarded the train, what time and direction please? If the front, first-class facilities were in action and you didn’t hold a first-class ticket then travelling in this portion of the train could result in a penalty fare.”

As a result of the fine, Theo said: “I should be able to scrape a bit from savings to pay, but it’s still entirely disproportionate.

Explaining his choice to travel to London by train, he added: “I was commuting from Boston, I have to drive over an hour to get to the train station to even be able to get to London.

“I travel by train as it’s too long of a distance to drive, and I’d rather be productive.”

A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway said that “rear first class compartments on Thameslink trains have been declassified since they entered service in 2016, to create more space for customers with regular tickets. We advertise this on the digital displays on board the train as well as on platform screens.”

The spokesperson added that the fine was dictated by national rules, and was £100 plus the price of the full single fare, reduced to £50 plus the price of the single fare if paid within 21 days.

“No-one would think they were not in a first class compartment. It is clearly signposted both on the outside and inside of the carriage. Our station platform train describer boards also clearly state where first class is situated. The compartments also look very different and they are separated from the rest of the carriage by a door.”

They then went on to say: “Thameslink trains were specified a long time ago, in 2008, with a minimum number of first class seats and have first class compartments at each end. However, by the time they entered service in 2016, it was felt the proportion of first class seats was too great, so the rear compartment in the direction of travel has always been declassified to create more space for customers with regular tickets. We advertise this on the digital displays on board the train as well as on platform display screens.”

Featured image via X and Unsplash