Southern train delayed after smell of cannabis wafts into driver’s cab
The train company says the smell was caused by passengers smoking cannabis on an earlier journey (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
A Southern train was delayed by 20 minutes due to the “strong smell of cannabis” in the driver’s cab.
Passengers travelling to Littlehampton were hit by a 20 minute delay as a “strong smell of cannabis” had carried through into the drivers cab, meaning some carriages onboard had to be taken out of service.
The train’s departure from London Victoria station was held after a “group of four to five youths were found smoking cannabis and vandalising the rear coach” on the journey into the capital on Thursday evening, according to Govia Thameslink Railway – which runs Southern Railway.
When the 12-car-train was ready to depart London Victoria back towards Littlehampton at 9.16pm, the smell of the class-b drug had seeped through into the now-driver’s cab from the passenger area.
The decision was made to take the front four carriages out of service, so that the driver and passengers were not affected by the smell. This left eight carriages left on the train.
So our @SouthernRailUK[1] train is delayed…. as the number of coaches needed to be reduced from 12 to 8 because (wait for it) .. the smell of cannabis in the drivers cab…..
— Julie Edwards (@j_edwards_photo) July 6, 2023[2]
The onboard supervisor on the Southern train informed passengers using the PA system. He said the train was being delayed as there was a strong smell of cannabis in the driving coach.
A spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway said: “Sickeningly, a group of four to five youths were found smoking cannabis and vandalising the rear coach with graffiti on the train’s journey up to London on Thursday night.
“On arrival at Victoria, the driver swapped ends and found the strong smell of cannabis from the saloon had also carried through to the cab, so a decision was made to take the front four coaches out of service, leaving eight behind to make the journey to Littlehampton.
“The train left 20 minutes late as a result. Anyone whose journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more can claim Delay Repay “
The incident has been reported to the British Transport Police.
References
- ^ @SouthernRailUK (twitter.com)
- ^ July 6, 2023 (twitter.com)