A 27-YEAR-OLD St Albans woman, fined for travelling in a first class rail carriage with a standard ticket, says train overcrowding is unbearable and unsafe.

Catherine McNeil, who works for the British Safety Council in London, has called for Thameslink to abandon first class.

On Friday McNeil, from Lemsford Road, pleaded not guilty to travelling first class without a valid ticket.

McNeil, who represented herself, told St Albans magistrates she suffered from a foot problem. The train was so overcrowded she was forced to sit in first class because there was nowhere else to sit or stand safely.

She said: "Thameslink should get rid of first class. There's not the capacity now there's just no space for people to sit or stand. Very few people travel first class.

"Chiltern Railways are doing away with first class so that they can free up more seats for standard passengers. Thameslink should do the same."

But magistrates found her guilty. She was fined £100 and ordered to pay £120 in court costs and £2.60 compensation.

The court heard how McNeil, who has no arch in her right foot, got on the 7.02am train from St Albans to Kings Cross Thameslink on June 5 last year with a standard ticket.

Plain-clothed Thameslink ticket inspector Richard Crane cautioned McNeil, a former Loreto Girls School pupil, for sitting in first class without a first class ticket.

Mr Crane said Thameslink headquarters had received numerous complaints about standard class ticket-holders sitting in first class compartments. The St Albans to Kings Cross Thameslink line was one of many that had been identified as a problem route.

When questioned by Thameslink prosecutor Mr Raymond Edis, Mr Crane said that Thameslink did not guarantee passengers a seat in standard accommodation.

McNeil said after the case: "I'm disappointed that they didn't take into account the fact that I had a foot problem. I don't have a proper arch on my foot. I have put up with it for too long and have damaged the tendon round my ankle. It's a constant dull ache and very uncomfortable to stand."

The court heard how McNeil had been using the train line since October 2000. She claimed she was not given the chance to explain why she was sitting in first class or pay the extra train fare. She said there were nine others without first class tickets and no-one was asked to leave the carriage.

Mr Crane said she was free to explain her actions. He had not given her the chance to pay the extra fare because she should have done that before she got on the train. He told magistrates he did not ask anyone to move because he did not want to inconvenience other passengers.

McNeil added after the hearing: "It's just unbearable. I've been overcome with heat exhaustion before and have helped other passengers off the train suffering from the same condition.

"People feel they have got to get into work on time and will put up with anything. Every single week there are instances of overcrowding."

A Thameslink spokesman said there were no plans to get rid of first class.

There were plans to extend platforms and put on more trains under the Thameslink 2000 scheme, but that was deferred.