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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| First Great Western apologises for 'shocking' death announcement | First Great Western apologises for 'shocking' death announcement |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A rail company has apologised after a staff member twice told passengers their train was delayed because someone "couldn't be bothered to live anymore". | |
| Passengers aboard a train to Plymouth were delayed after a fatality on the line. | |
| Esmee Phillips, 21, complained to First Great Western, saying "the shocking and callous" loudspeaker announcement left people "completely open-mouthed". | |
| The company has apologised for "any distress caused". | The company has apologised for "any distress caused". |
| Its services were disrupted on Friday after a man was killed by a train between Slough and Reading. | Its services were disrupted on Friday after a man was killed by a train between Slough and Reading. |
| Miss Phillips was travelling back from Oxford to Plymouth on a delayed service and said a female staff member made two loudspeaker announcements about the fatality. | Miss Phillips was travelling back from Oxford to Plymouth on a delayed service and said a female staff member made two loudspeaker announcements about the fatality. |
| She said the announcement said: "Our delays are due to someone who couldn't be bothered to live anymore. | She said the announcement said: "Our delays are due to someone who couldn't be bothered to live anymore. |
| "Because of this, there are severe delays. Some of you have missed your connecting flights for the Bank Holiday." | "Because of this, there are severe delays. Some of you have missed your connecting flights for the Bank Holiday." |
| 'Cringed' | 'Cringed' |
| Miss Phillips said she and other passengers "cringed" at the message. | Miss Phillips said she and other passengers "cringed" at the message. |
| "It was shocking as it was said in a very callous and tasteless way, especially as you don't know what personal experiences other passengers have gone through," she said. | "It was shocking as it was said in a very callous and tasteless way, especially as you don't know what personal experiences other passengers have gone through," she said. |
| Fellow passenger Jay Young said the announcements, made once near Westbury and again just before Exeter, made passengers in his carriage "gasp". | Fellow passenger Jay Young said the announcements, made once near Westbury and again just before Exeter, made passengers in his carriage "gasp". |
| First Great Western said: "We expect high standards from our onboard teams, who are trained to make clear announcements about delays. | First Great Western said: "We expect high standards from our onboard teams, who are trained to make clear announcements about delays. |
| "When this involves a fatality this should be done with sensitivity and care. We're sorry for any distress caused to customers yesterday and can confirm that this incident is under investigation." | "When this involves a fatality this should be done with sensitivity and care. We're sorry for any distress caused to customers yesterday and can confirm that this incident is under investigation." |