Passengers encouraged to get off hot train to get some air are left stranded - after it pulls off WITHOUT them with luggage still onboard
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Passengers from London were left stranded on their way to Wales last week after being encouraged to get off the packed train to get some air - before it left without them.
The group of passengers - which included an elderly couple - were 'flabbergasted' after the Great Western Railway blunder saw them left at Swindon station, more than 130 miles away from their destination.
Some of the group were also separated from vital luggage still on board the train, which contained important medication and valuables.
They had boarded the train to Camarthen, south Wales, at London's Paddington Station on Thursday afternoon but found that because two earlier trains had been cancelled, it was packed with passengers.
One couple, Trevor and Eileen Greenfield, had to stand with 10 others in very cramped and hot conditions for about an hour until the train stopped at Swindon and was delayed for about 15 minutes.
Mr Greenfield said the driver announced that he understood things might be uncomfortable for passengers and would arrange for the guard to open the door so they could get off to get some fresh air.
The 74-year-old, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, said a group of eight people got off and stood about a metre away from the train - waiting to be told when to get back on it.
But they said that at 5.30pm, without any announcement being made, the doors of the train closed and it started moving.
Mr Greenfield said: 'As a group, we were horrified and in shock that it was pulling away. People started shouting and waving in panic to the guard who was some distance away.
'When he spotted us, he shouted aggressively "get away from the train". He made no attempt to check on the panic and hysteria of our group and what was happening.
'People were distressed, confused and flabbergasted. It's worrying and disappointing that the driver made no announcement that the train was leaving and that the guard ignored the pleas for help.'
To make matters worse, the couple's suitcase, containing clothes, medication and valuables from a four-day break in the capital, was still on the train.
Fortunately, after later getting another train to south Wales from Swindon, they were reunited with their luggage. The train stopped at Cardiff and their daughter drove over from Barry and managed to pick the suitcase up.
Mr Greenfield, who said he and his 68-year-old wife had lodged a formal complaint about the incident with Great Western Railway (GWR), said: 'It was a long, stressful and worrying day. What happened was unbelievable.'
Another passenger, Liam Svensen, said the experience had been 'disappointing and unacceptable'.
The 23-year-old CCTV engineer from Bridgend said: 'There was no announcement whatsoever to tell us to get back on the train. It was very out of order.'
He added that had his work colleague not gone back onto the train before it pulled away, he could have lost £3,500 worth of work tools.
A spokesperson for GWR said: 'We'd like to apologise to customers affected by the disruption last Thursday afternoon. To help keep the journey moving, the 1618 Paddington to Carmarthen train made an unscheduled stop at Swindon to allow a relief driver to board.
'During the stop, the doors were opened. Our station and on board teams carried out the necessary checks before the train was safely dispatched.
'We understand that some customers did not reboard the train during this time, and we're really sorry for the inconvenience this caused.'
