Express
February 21, 2014
A PREGNANT woman was forced to sit on filthy train floor after passengers refused to give up their seats for her when she became unwell.
First-time mum Victoria Poskitt, 40, last night fumed at what she claimed was a lack of “human decency”.
The communications manager, who is showing a visible bump at five months’ pregnant, began to feel dizzy on her journey from her home in Surbiton, south-west London, to Waterloo.
But she claims she was ignored when she asked fellow passengers for help and was left to see out her 20-minute commute sat on the floor.
To add to Victoria’s misery, train operator South West Trains had refused to give her a special pass that is given to pregnant women allowing them to sit in first class, leading her to fear the rest of her pregnancy commute will be made in discomfort.
Over the past 12 months, South West Trains has handed out 575 upgrade tickets to pregnant women.
But because Victoria does not have a season ticket as she only works in central London three days a week, she is not eligible.
Angry Victoria said: “Simple human decency should have prevailed. I thought South West Trains might be willing to make an exception, particularly after I told them about what happened.
“But after conversations with various managers, they’ve flatly said ‘No’, saying policy is policy.
“I don’t honestly know what to do next. I keep trying with South West Trains, I’m throwing myself at their mercy because they could make all the difference to the last few months of my pregnancy.”