Steve Coogan stands up for passengers sitting in first class on overcrowded train He blasted the guard for ‘not being very pragmatic’

Steve Coogan has been spotted standing up for a group of frustrated Southern Rail commuters who were kicked out of seats in a first-class carriage.

The Alan Partridge star was seen having a heated exchange with a train conductor who refused to let the customers sit in the first class compartment of the carriage on the Wednesday morning Lewes to London service.

‘Outrageous that they should face a penalty’

As the passengers did not have a first class ticket, the conductor ordered them leave the carriage or pay a penalty fare.

The i newsletter latest news and analysis Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The comedian was saying it was “outrageous” that the passengers were ordered to relocate to another carriage on the “ridiculously overcrowded” 8.46 service.

He blasted the guard for “not being very pragmatic.”

One commuter said: “He was saying that it was outrageous that they should face any penalty and that they should have somewhere to sit.

‘He was very chivalrous’

Coogan, who spent a few minutes debating the conductor, was described as “very chivalrous” by a passenger hoping to claim a seat.

“There was a ticket inspector and a guard in the carriage. The guard said to the other passengers: ‘I don’t think the ticket inspector realises who he is,'” said the commuter.

“He was being very chivalrous defending the other passengers. There was one woman who was being told to leave even though she had a lot of luggage and wanted to stay with her bags.

“The train was ridiculously overcrowded with people packed into the aisles and a few passengers had wandered into the first class carriage simply to find a seat or somewhere a little bit more comfortable to stand.”

Despite the comedian’s best efforts, the passengers were removed from the carriage.

First-class fury

This is not the first time passengers have been at loggerheads with Southern Rail over their refusal to offer out first class seats.

A train boss from the network stopped an ill woman from standing in first class carriage – while he took up two seats.

Ms Fitzpatrick, 33, said she felt unwell and asked Mark Boon whether she could rest on seat arm in first class. But she said he dismissed her requests and had a “really awful manner”.

Southern Rail have been contacted for comment.