Famous people/celebrities you've met on a train

[route101]

Michael Portillo - twice. Once on an IET on the Cotswold Line, another on a local train in Italy from Milan to Como. (He had a film crew with him both times).

The comedian Alistair McGowan, again on the Cotswold Line. He is from Evesham and his parents still live there, so regulars on that line see him several times a year.

Queen Camilla, around 10 years ago back before she was queen. I was in the Eurostar departure lounge at St Pancras and she was quickly whisked through by security. Turns out she was actually travelling on the same service to Paris as me, in the next coach along. I could catch a glimpse of her from the vestibule if I went to the loo.

And finally, I have seen that TikTok guy Francis Bourgeoise (or however you spell it) on several railtours. No doubt he gets given free tickets so he can promote them. I don't watch his stuff, but every teenager and early 20s person on board always keeps finding an excuse to go up and speak to him.

I went into a lift at Edinburgh Waverley and Francis got in!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I saw Henry Winkler at Dewsbury station several years ago, but he wasn't on a train so I guess that doesn't count.

I was once on the same train as Eorl Crabtree (former Huddersfield Giants and England Rugby League player, and nephew of wrestler Big Daddy) between Huddersfield and Leeds.
My parents shared a crowded TPE service from Glasgow to Manchester Airport with the author Will Self.

 

[Trackman]

I've lost count on the WCML in First.
Notable mentions:
Daniel Craig with his mum. Sat in front of me. I kept thinking, 'I'm sure it's him' - didn't want to ask, he kept whispering, then he spoke - Then I knew it was him. Again, left him alone. Acknowledge him at the end of the journey, he did too.
Iain Cuthbertson (actor) - Another 'Is it him?' moment. He had stacks of Sunday newspapers on his table. A member of onboard staff spoke to him, and he confirmed it was him. I wish I did speak to him, I just respect their privacy because they must be bothered all the time.

 

[E27007]

Leon Brittan, travelling north from London on an HST on a Friday evening, at times on his knees searching under his seat, not sure if he had lost property or carrying out a security check

 

[dangie]

I remember sometime back in the 1960’s at a railway station, Widnes I think it was, sitting by a young man waiting for his train. He said he was a song writer/performer but was struggling to come up with ideas for a new song.

I said to him ‘Just write what you are feeling’.
I started him off with ‘I’m sitting in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination…’

My train came and I never saw him again. I don’t know if he ever finished the song…….

 

[778]

I remember sometime back in the 1960’s at a railway station, Widnes I think it was, sitting by a young man waiting for his train. He said he was a song writer/performer but was struggling to come up with ideas for a new song.

I said to him ‘Just write what you are feeling’.
I started him off with ‘I’m sitting in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination…’

My train came and I never saw him again. I don’t know if he ever finished the song…….

I really hope you are not making that up.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I regularly saw Michael Foot getting the train from Paddington to Wales. HST

 

[J-2739]

I don't have a contribution myself (unfortunately), but this something I like about trains: they are the ultimate great leveller! People from all walks of life are likely to take the train at least once in their life (if not once a year) from the average Joes to royalty, maybe cross paths but never actually speak to one another. They are true mass transit.

Now on the other hand, I couldn't imagine a Queen Camilla on a Stagecoach bus on a cold Monday morning...

 

[dangie]

I really hope you are not making that up.

I really wished I wasn’t

 

[Tezza1978]

I seem to spot famous people more on the tube or at stations:

Kerry Katona on the tube stood up at the end of a carriage with a minder , looked miserable /angry
David Tennant on the tube sat down 1 seat away from me, kept his head down!
Michael Portillo leaving Manchester Oxford Road
Alan Pardew at Liverpool Street station
Multiple Members of Parliament on trains to and from London

 

[alex397]

Vic Reeves / Jim Moir on the Southeastern Highspeed.

Alan Carr on the Tube. Can’t remember where, or which line. He didn’t have glasses on and looked hungover.

Also, when travelling in Avanti First Class (got a Seatfrog upgrade) there was a Premier League footballer with his family travelling to Liverpool. I can’t remember who he was, as I have absolutely no interest in football, but the friend I was travelling with identified him. Good to see one on a train rather than a helicopter/private jet!

 

[baz962]

Well if we count the ones we met not on a train but in a station I could add a few.
Simon Calder in pret at st pancras. Joe Lycett also pret. Alistair McGowan on the platform at st pancras.
If we come away from train stations , far too many to mention.

 

[londonbridge]

Was coming back from a Sunderland game, can’t remember who we’d played but we’d had a heavy defeat. One of the others went to the buffet car and came back saying Kieran Richardson was on the train. Went down and found him and held out my match programme and a pen, he looked up then took it from me, signed it and said There you go mate…. I said “thanks, shame about the result”, and went back to my carriage.

Not on a train, but at a station…..was waiting for my train at Marylebone, wandered back out on to the street for a couple of minutes and spotted the actor Peter Dinklage coming towards me.

 

[trebor79]

While on the Southwest Chief a few years back I met and ate a meal or two alongside Mike McCarthy.. Not famous in his own right but his daughter is the actor Melissa McCarthy. He was travelling from Chicago to LA to (I believe) meet his daughter during a Christmas - New Year period. Lovely guy, very unassuming and a former rail worker. He wasn't really aware how famous his daughter is in the UK until I reassured him she's very well known! Think he was quite happy to learn that.

She's not that famous - I've never heard of her!

 

[Mag_seven]

She's not that famous - I've never heard of her!

I think this will be one of these "show your age" type threads. Someone upthread mentioned Paula Wilcox - I'm sure most 20/30 somethings will have never heard of her either!

 

[Howardh]

I sat opposite someone in Standard +, who was asked for an autograph and a selfie. I hadn't the foggiest, still don't, and don't want to know either. All that I do know is he was sitting in my seat, but I didn't ask him to move I simply sat in the one opposite which was free.

 

[negone]

In the 1970's saw Roger McGough by himself at a table in the same (second class) carriage going from Lime Street to Euston.

electrician told me how as a young man in 1964, with certain electrical certificates he had a phone call to urgently get down to London on a train from Lime Street to Euston and saw Dusty Springfield in the same carriage, he was then flown to the US, as the ship couldn't leave without him and his certificates, the ship was full of Hollywood stars.

In the 1960's my accountant as a young man, used to commute into Manchester, in same carriage also commuting he said was an young attractive woman, Myra Hindley.

 

[E27007]

As a commuter I would see the outspoken MP Tony Banks, Lord Stratford travelling to the House by tube train, no airs or graces for Lord Stratford

 

[nlogax]

I think this will be one of these "show your age" type threads. Someone upthread mentioned Paula Wilcox - I'm sure most 20/30 somethings will have never heard of her either!

Indeed. I'm willing to bet it would also have been a stretch for most in their 40s and early 50s

 

[E27007]

I seem to spot famous people more on the tube or at stations:

Kerry Katona on the tube stood up at the end of a carriage with a minder , looked miserable /angry

So why did she have a Minder? Protection? Protection against the travelling public, or, to protect her from from a relapse into her old "habits"

 

[75A]

I think this will be one of these "show your age" type threads. Someone upthread mentioned Paula Wilcox - I'm sure most 20/30 somethings will have never heard of her either!

I'm like that with Kerry Kotona in #40, absolutely no idea.

 

[baz962]

So why did she have a Minder? Protection? Protection against the travelling public, or, to protect her from from a relapse into her old "habits"

I find the minder/protection thing bizarre. Saw a picture of Paul McCartney on a train without and also once in a supermarket without. Seems like the smaller celebs want them. Mate of mine used to work in a bank right in the city area and saw princess Di on her own and said hi to her.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

In the good old days of the John Player League, Yorkshire used to get huge crowds for games at Scarborough which, at the time, was only served by two-car DMUs. With matches finishing well after 7 pm, there were very workings for spectators to use to get back to York, Leeds and beyond. Sir Geoffrey Boycott was on one of these trains which caused quite a commotion. But the guard wisely allowed the great man to sit in the back cab to protect him from the adoring masses.

 

[Tezza1978]

So why did she have a Minder? Protection? Protection against the travelling public, or, to protect her from from a relapse into her old "habits"

God knows, probably the first one, but he was a large bouncer type gentleman.

An old boss of mine used to live on the same street as her.........paparazzi parked outside her house virtually 24/7

 

[Busaholic]

I remember sometime back in the 1960’s at a railway station, Widnes I think it was, sitting by a young man waiting for his train. He said he was a song writer/performer but was struggling to come up with ideas for a new song.

I said to him ‘Just write what you are feeling’.
I started him off with ‘I’m sitting in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination…’

My train came and I never saw him again. I don’t know if he ever finished the song…….

Paul Simon was supposed to be playing a gig near Charing Cross in London, at Bunjie's Coffee House, around that time and my mate stood in when he couldn't make it. Al Stewart played his first ever set there too, which I saw.

 

[Bald Rick]

Quite a few, but those that stand out are

Tom Baker on a slammer ex Charing Cross (he dressed exactly like he did in Doctor Who)
Rishi Sunak (in his previous job) on Avanti (on time)

If you travel first class London - Manchester often enough its almost impossible not to catch a celeb sooner or later.

 

[johntea]

I once saw Christa Ackroyd doing a piece for BBC Look North just outside the entrance to Leeds station once, she certainly didn't seem to have a smile on her face!

I go to MediaCity quite a lot to be in TV audiences although don't recall ever bumping into anyone famous on the tram!

 

[elbows47]

Many moons ago on a Eurostar to Paris considerable commotion was caused when Tony Blair came through with his minders and a minister or two. Also on a dmu in Gloucestershire a bunch of upper class teenagers crowded in led by Prince Harry - or if it wasn't him, it was a perfect double. It was about the time Charles spent a lot of time down there. Back in the 60s I sat next to Enoch Powell on the tube, and rather less serious, Keith Lemon was spreading mischief on the West Country HST I was in. I also had a chat with Steve Davies on our way to Preston, him for the snooker - I had known his father briefly as we lived in the same part of south east London. I also met Wilfrid Pickles and Hattie Jacques outside Hyde Park Corner station.
Not quite on a train I met Eddie Butler, the rugby commentator on Tywyn Wharf station and served tickets to auctioneer Adam Partridge there as well. Delightful chap. Also Michael Fabricant MP.

 

[E27007]

A Saturday morning, Kings Cross Station, in a queue at the WH Smith shop to pay for a newspaper.
When a voice boomed from behind me "where did you get that paper from lad" I turned 180 degrees to face the enquirer, my eyeline was level with the badge of his tracksuit top, one step backwards to look up to his face, it was Jack Charlton, Big Jack, as tall as the Eiffel Tower

 

[trebor79]

I think this will be one of these "show your age" type threads. Someone upthread mentioned Paula Wilcox - I'm sure most 20/30 somethings will have never heard of her either!

Indeed. I'm willing to bet it would also have been a stretch for most in their 40s and early 50s

I'm 44 but genuinely clueless who it is. I do know who Paula Wilcox is though!

Keith Lemon was spreading mischief on the West Country HST I was in.

I bet that was a right laugh!