I mean, really, this should be obvious, yes?
To be clear: this would be just as unacceptable and I'd expect the company to take the same action if they'd posted the opposite message
I'm guessing this may lead to a tightening up of SWT's rules on the messages. Which is shame, but as ever it only takes one idiot overstepping to ruin things.
To be clear: this would be just as unacceptable and I'd expect the company to take the same action if they'd posted the opposite message
South West Trains employee suspended after 'Vote Out' Brexit message appears on side of train
18:00, 31 MAY 2016 UPDATED 19:26, 31 MAY 2016
BY JAMES CHAPPLE
The message was seen by an eagle-eyed passenger arriving at Woking on another service at the same time
The 'Vote Out' message was seen on a South West Trains service at Woking
A South West Trains (SWT) employee has been suspended after a message appearing to support the EU referendum Leave campaign appeared emblazoned on the side of a train.
The message, which read simply "Vote Out", flashed up on the electronic destination display on the side of the train and was spotted by a passenger on another service near Woking railway station.
The passenger, who did not wish to be named, told Get Surrey they were on the 8.15pm London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction service on Sunday when they saw the message.
"I got off at Woking," they said. "I had a look myself at the other train. It left [Waterloo]before us but we passed it a few minutes before reaching Woking [at 8.45pm], which is when I took the picture."
It is understood the service in question was the 8.07pm London Waterloo to Basingstoke and Alton splitting service, which would have arrived into Woking railway station at 8.42pm.
When contacted by Get Surrey, a spokesman for SWT said: "The EU referendum is a matter for the electorate.
"Our company has taken no position on the issue. If this has appeared on one of our trains, it has been without our knowledge or authorisation."
Pressed on how such a message could have appeared on the side of one its trains, the SWT spokesman added: "We can confirm a South West Trains employee has been suspended as part of an internal investigation into the matter."
It's not the first time an unorthodox message has appeared on an SWT service.
In March, a London Waterloo service - which called at Haslemere en route - was jovially renamed "Trainy McTrainface" using the same electronic destination display.
Matthew Fifield (@funfield5)
SWT also has a reputation for allowing staff to cheer or diffuse situations through humour or fun and games.
The company's famous quizmaster guard, for instance, helped hundreds of weary travellers pass the time after a line-side fire at Vauxhall caused major delays on Surrey services earlier this month.
Meanwhile, during major national or sporting events, SWT has frequently taken to renaming stations to suit the occasion or flashing up amusing messages on station displays to mark the event.
However, it is unclear whether on these occasions, it has been staff acting beyond their brief to bring a little respite to passengers, or the decision has been made by the company.
SWT did not respond to Get Surrey's query as to what members of staff would have access to the onboard displays.
I'm guessing this may lead to a tightening up of SWT's rules on the messages. Which is shame, but as ever it only takes one idiot overstepping to ruin things.