Commuter does an Indiana Jones

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An enraged commuter climbed onto the outside of a morning peak-hour train and hung on as it reached speeds of up to 60mph - because there was not enough room inside the carriage.

The man held on to the back of the train for 20 minutes, while it went through two tunnels and four stations, in a move reminiscent of film action hero Indiana Jones.

His frustration at the appalling state of the railways had finally boiled over when he arrived at his station to find the platforms jampacked and services delayed yet again.

Ignoring his own safety, the commuter - in an act that was today condemned as "stupid and reckless" - clambered onto the rear of the train and stood on a foot plate. He then held on to grab handles for seven miles.

Rail chiefs launched an immediate investigation into the incident, and threatened to prosecute the commuter for trespass and vandalism if he was caught.

The commuter had arrived at Oakleigh Park station to board a local train bound for Moorgate. Finding the main carriages full, he first tried to squeeze into the guard's van and unused driver's cab at the rear of the train before jumping on to the back of the train.

Kevin Andrews, 29, said he saw the man climb on to the train on Monday morning at about 7.30am.

Mr Andrews, who lives near Oakleigh Park station and works in a bank in central London, said: "The platform was packed with people because of the delays from the weather. The train came along and we were all getting on when I saw him lean out and just grab the rails.

"He put one foot out and then swung himself on to the little plate at the back. He must have been hanging on for nearly 20 minutes because I think he got off at Finsbury Park. He was in his forties with longish hair and certainly did not look like a nutter. But - even if the train was full and I really, really wanted to get to work - I would not do that. I would either just wait for the next one or go home, never anything like that."

Oakleigh Park is a quiet suburban station that serves King's Cross and Moorgate stations. Most mornings there are around four or five trains an hour into the city. But Mr Andrews said there were regularly delays, adding: "Sometimes you wait quarter of an hour and sometimes it's longer. The service isn't great and if it forces people to do things like jump on the back of a train they should do something about it."

Another witness said: "People could not believe it. He just hung on to the outside of the train. It was an extremely foolhardy and reckless thing to do. We just could not believe what was happening. He was obviously terribly frustrated - as we all were - about the delays.

"The trains were all over the place, and when they did arrive in the station they were already so full many people could not get on. But what this man did was madness.

"You see pictures of this sort of thing happening in India but I never imagined I would see it in this country. It just shows how awful the railways have become."

The man hung on as the train passed through New Southgate, Alexandra Park, Hornsey and Harringay stations before he finally climbed off at Finsbury Park.

"He just crossed the platform and walked off," said the witness.

A spokeswoman for train operator WAGN said: "We have carried out an investigation and there have been no reports from our station or on-train staff of anyone riding on the outside of a train."

She said the service on Monday, when the incident is said to have taken place, suffered disruption as a result of damage following Sunday's storm. "We provided the best service we could but delays were inevitable. Riding on the outside of a train is an act of trespass and vandalism and anyone caught doing so would be subject to prosecution."

 

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