Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has been taken to task by a German railway company after tweeting a photo of herself sitting on the floor of a train surrounded by bags.

The 16-year-old drew sympathy after posting that she was travelling on "overcrowded trains" on her way home from the UN climate change conference in Madrid.

Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home! pic.twitter.com/ssfLCPsR8o — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019

Thunberg does not fly on planes because of the environmental impact.

Responding, rail operator Deutsche Bahn said it was pleased to have her on board their eco-friendly train and welcomed her support "in the fight against climate change".

But the company added: "It would have been even nicer if you had also reported how friendly and competently you were looked after by our team at your seat in first class."


Deutsche Bahn has faced criticism in recent years for delays, last-minute train cancellations and expensive ticket fares.

Image: Deutsche Bahn issued a pointed response to Thunberg's Twitter post

In the picture on Twitter, Thunberg is sitting on the floor at the end of a carriage with her back leaning against a suitcase, staring out of a window.

There is an empty food box next to her and suitcases and backpacks piled up.

In the message, she wrote: "Travelling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I'm finally on my way home!"

Explained: The rise of Greta Thunberg

She later tweeted: "Our train from Basel was taken out of traffic. So we sat on the floor on 2 different trains. After Göttingen I got a seat.

"This is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!"

It comes after the teenager apologised for saying politicians should be put "against the wall", after critics took it to mean that she was supporting violence.

Thunberg made the comment in a speech to young activists in the Italian city of Turin on Friday.

Our train from Basel was taken out of traffic. So we sat on the floor on 2 different trains. After Göttingen I got a seat.This is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high! — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 15, 2019

She later said she was making a literal translation from Swedish, in which the expression means to put someone on the spot with tough questions.

"That's what happens when you improvise speeches in a second language.

"But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this," she wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

... improvise speeches in a second language.

But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I can not enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence. It goes without saying but I say it anyway. — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019

Thunberg had told the crowd in Turin that world leaders were running away from their responsibilities to fight climate change.

"We have to make sure that they cannot do that," she said.

"We will make sure they, that we put them against the wall, and that they will have to do their job and to protect our futures."

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She later tweeted that she and the youth movement she inspired is against all forms of violence.

"It goes without saying but I say it anyway," she wrote.

Thunberg was also recently named Time magazine's Person of the Year for her efforts to press governments and others to take more rapid action in combating climate change.