British Transport Police (BTP) is warning rowdy and heavily intoxicated revellers, who are attempting to travel north on trains out of York on Saturday evenings, that they will not be allowed on trains if they are deemed to be too drunk.
Over the past few months BTP officers have joined security and railway revenue protection staff from train operators to crackdown on those who are persistently travelling without valid tickets or are heavily under the influence of alcohol, on Saturday night train services out of York by providing ticket checks at the station and removing alcohol.
The operators have identified an increase in the number of revellers particularly from the Teesside area – mainly Middlesbrough, Thornaby and Yarm – who head to York on Saturday afternoon, then travel back home without tickets on a number of services, often in a state of intoxication.
Sergeant Tanya Rickard said: โWe are continuing to crackdown on ticket less travel and the consumption of alcohol at the station and on the trains out of York, but we are also now focusing on identifying and ascertaining if passengers are fit to travel, and not drunk and disorderly.
โToo often we are seeing extremely intoxicated people travelling on service between York and Middlesbrough on a Saturday evening causing problems and putting themselves, members of the public, rail staff and officers at risk. Allowing extremely drunk people to travel is a recipe for disaster. If passengers are turning up at the station attempting to travel in this state, officers and rail staff will not allow them to travel and they will be asked to leave the station and travel by other means.โ
Sgt Rickard added: โWe do not want to spoil people having a fun night out, but when the fun crosses the line and makes the journeys of other passengers and staff at the station or who are working on the services an intimidating experience we will step in, we have to consider the safety and comfort of others.
โBoth BTP and the rail industry take an extremely dim view of anyone who carries out criminal or anti-social behaviour and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who behaves in a problematic manner.โ
Billy Vickers, First TransPennine Express Police Liaison Officer said: “First TransPennine Express is committed to providing a safe and secure travel environment for customers and colleagues at all times. The vast majority of our passengers travel in a respectful and civil manner and they and our staff have the absolute right not to experience or be subject to aggressive and threatening behaviour. We will continue to work with the British Transport Police to enforce a fit for travel policy by not allowing alcohol on late evening services from York. Our trains and stations are fitted with state of the art CCTV and we will use this and all other available means to pursue and ban those that choose to act in an anti-social manner.”
