Woman Refused Ticket and Told to Wait for Next Train

While in a train at the station on Monday morning ready for Doncaster, a middle-aged and respectably attired woman – apparently from the country – hurried up, with a child.

She looked very hot and as though she had journeyed some distance on foot. She told an official she had not got a ticket as the office window was closed, and she asked if she could get into a compartment and pay. There was plenty of time for her to do so.

‘No,’ was the reply, in no very mild manner; ‘You should come sooner. Wait until the next train.’ I heard exclamations of ‘Shame!’ in the train, as the engine steamed out of the station, leaving the poor woman and child on the next train arrived for Doncaster.

The woman may have had important business to transact for aught the officials knew. Accosting an M. S. and L. authority at Doncaster. I asked if such conduct was warrantable, and the reply was ‘No, not in the least. There are no regulations to justify it, but the reverse. The fare ought have been taken from the woman, and she should have been allowed to make the journey without delay.’

I mention this in the interests of the public, and especially as complaints of this kind are very frequent at that station. I hope they will not be heard of any more.