SPECIAL needs children who were forced to sit on the floor of a train were told they couldn’t have empty business class seats because they would spoil the journey of other passengers.
The group of 10 children, aged four to 11, had been on a day trip to the Edinburgh Fringe with Lanarkshire theatre group Stage Right when they were made to sit on the floor of the CrossCountry train from Edinburgh Waverley to Motherwell.
Although the standard class carriages were full and the youngsters had to sit on the floor outside the train’s toilets, the business class carriage was almost empty.
But workers from the charity say they were told by a train manager that the kids, including a boy who only has one leg, couldn’t sit in business class as the people in that carriage “do not need the likes of your children spoiling their journey”.
And they also say she threatened them, saying: “If you don’t stop talking to me, I will throw you all off, then how will you get back to Motherwell?”
After complaining time and again, Stage Right leaders say the train manager still refused to let the children sit in business class.
Rebekah Aitken, 25, who runs the theatre group, said: “We were discriminated against because of the disabled kids we had with us. The train manager thought they weren’t of the standard to be allowed to sit in the business carriage. But she moved other kids and parents, who had paid the same train fare, into those seats.
“I’m embarrassed for the kids as they were paraded in front of the passengers and made to feel like an inconvenience.”
Elaine Berry, 26, also of Stage Right, said: “Their memories of what had been a brilliant day are now of her and their train journey home.”
A spokesman for CrossCountry said: “We are sorry to learn of the circumstances of the Stage Right Theatre School on their recent journey.
“We expect our staff to be polite and helpful at all times and it is extremely disappointing if their behaviour was as described. We will investigate the circumstances as a matter of urgency and will be in touch with them as soon as this is completed.
“We would like to offer our sincere apologies to Rebekah, Elaine and all the children for the poor quality of their journey back to Motherwell.”
