COMMUTERS have hit out at “disruptive passengers” after a week of problems at Southminster train station.

British Transport Police were twice called to Southminster after a group were causing delays.

The group were holding doors open and being verbally abusive to staff leading to disruption at Southminster and several stations further down the line.

British Transport Police attended. A spokesman said: “We were called at 4.20pm on Thursday, October 20, to reports of anti-social behaviour at

Southminster railway station. A group of around seven or eight people were causing problems with reports of them holding train doors open and being verbally abusive to staff.

“Their behaviour resulted in disruption to some services.”

A spokesman for Greater Anglia trains, said: “There was minor disruption near Southminster owing to reports of disorder. The 16.14 Southminster-

Wickford service departed late and the 4.56pm Wickford-Southminster service terminated at North Fambridge.”

This incident was the second in a week, coming after trains were delayed or terminated due to similar behaviour on the Monday.
Leanne Parsons, of Burnham, was at North Fambridge when her train from

Wickford was terminated. She said: “We were held at North Fambridge for about 20 minutes. During that time we were given sporadic updates from the driver as he received more info.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A group of youths were reported to be preventing the doors from closing and being verbally abusive towards staff.”

Councillor Adrian Fluker, ward member for Southminster, condemned the anti-social behaviour,.

He said: “This type of criminal behaviour is not only incredibly dangerous but is also totally unacceptable. The train provides a vital link for the residents of

Southminster and the other nearby villages and any interference to the service impact on all rail users and could lead to services being cancelled or even suspended.”

Contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040, or text 61016.