Mariella Frostrup vents at sitting on train floor outside toilet

by · Mail Online

Beach saunas, wild swimming, and a plush hotel in Devon - it was the perfect holiday retreat for Mariella Frostrup.

That was until the broadcaster encountered Great Western Railways, and was forced to spend a two-hour journey sitting on the train floor despite holding a first-class ticket.

Returning from a wellness retreat on Saturday, the 61-year-old presenter splashed out on a pricier ticket, but was met with a packed service from Tiverton Parkway, Devon to London Paddington and no seat.

Ms Frostrup shared a selfie of her sat on the floor, wedged in next to the door of the train with sullen look on her face. 

She wrote: 'New lows for GWR. A first-class advance ticket buys you a seat on [the] floor outside the toilet in a train where it's standing room from front to rear.

'I'm getting back in my car!'

Mariella Frostrup pictured sitting on the floor during her train journey from Tiverton Parkway, Devon to London Paddington
She spent the two-hour journey on the floor despite having a first-class ticket 
Mariella Frostrup's series of tweets after she was made to sit on the floor despite having a first class ticket 

Having purchased a pricier ticket in advance for what should have been a more relaxing and comfortable journey, Frostrup was left without a seat by the train operator.

She shared photos of her uncomfortable situation to social media to flag the issue with Great Western Railways after apparently having had little luck with staff.

Ninety minutes later she posted an update showing herself working from her laptop whilst kneeling on a copy of The Times.

'Well @GWRHelp are taking flexible working quite literally - standing room only, even in first!' she posted.

She continued: 'Is photo proof @gwrhelp that I've just sat on the floor from Tiverton Parkway to Paddington DESPITE holding a first class ticket? I've just been told ( after queuing at your Padd tix office for 15 mins) that I need to write and request compensation! Could you make it any harder?'

It was quite the turn of events for the 61-year-old presenter who had visited the Yeotown Health Retreat.

She thanked the wellness spot for a 'joy-inducing time', and added: 'I'm lucky to have found a place that restores my equilibrium and puts me on the right path over and over again. It's my irreplaceable luxury and I leave Yeotown calmer and quieter inside my head and stronger and fitter in my body.'

Mariella Frostrup pictuted at the Yeotown Health Retreat she had been visiting 
Passengers queuing to get onto a train at Paddington station (file picture) 
People walk past a Great Western Railway train in Paddington Station (file picture) 

Asked about the return journey, she told the MailOnline: 'Luckily I'd been doing yoga so sitting cross legged for two hours was less of a strain!'

After posting the ordeal onto X, formerly Twitter, users were quick to jump to her defence.

Dame Joan Ruddick responded: 'Just about the worst rail company in UK - travelling 4 times with them next week - dread….'

Another person commented: 'One might assume that booking a ticket came with a guaranteed seat?'

Someone else said: 'Probably cheaper to drive, fuel and park than the cost of the ticket.'

A spokesperson for Great Western Railway said: 'We are really sorry to hear of the customer's experience. If you have reserved a seat but are not able to sit down, you are entitled to compensation and we will follow this up.'