A former England rugby star has told how he was left trapped on a train operated by Britain’s worst-performing rail firm after staff failed to help him get off.
Alastair Hignell, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, caught a train from Brighton to St Pancras on July 12.
Mr Hignell said he was told by station staff they would ensure someone would meet him in London with a ramp to help him off the train but no one was there when he arrived.
As a result Mr Hignell remained on the train as it continued its journey to Bedford despite an attempt by a passenger to find an employee.
He managed to alight at West Hampstead but missed a planned meeting at Saracens rugby club at Allianz Park in north London because of the disruption.
The incident was reported by the Sunday Times.
He told the newspaper: "It was an awful day and I was naturally very, very angry.
"I was frustrated with the system that you can ask somebody to book assistance ahead and it still doesn't work."
In a separate incident last month, Mr Hignell claimed he was left stranded on a platform with no one to help him on a train after he was told he should have given staff 24 hours' notice before travelling.
He only managed to board the train after he gained the attention of the driver.
The 60-year-old, who also played county cricket for Gloucestershire, arrived at Arundel station after watching his former team in a match against Sussex.
He claimed no staff were at the station and when he called a Southern helpline he was told no help could be given because he had not booked ahead.
He told the Sunday Times: “In the end I had to wave as the train came in and wave at the driver, indicating that I needed some help.
“Thankfully there was a conductor on that train and [he] sorted me out,"
A GTR spokesman said the firm was investigating Mr Hignell’s complaints and apologised over both journeys.
The spokesman told the newspaper: “We are investigating his complaints and as part of that, our assisted travel team has contacted him regarding his experiences to get to the bottom of what went wrong.”
Mr Hignell won 14 caps for England between 1975 and 1979.
In Janurary, Govia Thameslink Railway was named the worst performing in Britain following a passenger satisfaction survey.