Public Transport is No Longer Safe!!!

On Monday 26th November, I caught a train on my way home from work as I always do each day.

I am an anxiety sufferer and regularly have to take calming medications in times of due stress to avoid panic attacks. I use to avoid the transport system altogether and began driving to work but then I decided to be strong and save money by catching the train despite anxiety.

There was no reason to be scared, or was there?

I was casually sitting on the train like I do each day. I was then alarmed as I saw two young punk adults (early 20's) board the train, they were rude and carrying a large bottle of alcohol which they had obviously been drinking beforehand as it was 3 quarters empty.

They jumped on board while drinking and carrying on opposite me. As the train began to go through the tunnel, they decided to move where the carriage doors were and open them to have a cigarette. With the door wide open, noise, air flowing in and the smell of old tunnels. I was petrified and on the edge of my seat. One man politely asked them to stop but they refused to listen.

Then a few stops into the tunnel, another outburst occurred when a man began to shout at the top of his lungs such things as " I am god" " If they try to kill me, no one cares" "F**k the police, they try to kill me, I kill them" and "F**k the Arabs and Greeks, I kill them all, I am the strongest, better than god" This man was definitely crazy and me being Arab was quite offended and very scared to even move. He did this all the way on the train screaming at the top of his lungs and walking in the aisles while smoking!! Passengers got quite annoyed and young men began to swear at him including the two young drinkers who also began provoking him and I thought a fight would definitely break out.

I couldn't't reach the emergency intercom as one was next to the smokers and the other near the crazy man so what was I to do?? We just had to wait until it was over. The couple left the train without a fight and the crazy man also got off a few stops later. A group of young youths began to provoke the crazy man by swearing and making obscene comments as the train drove away and doors were closed, very immature.

On this day, I suffered like many other fellow passengers a terrible ordeal that had me on the edge of my seat, clenching my fists in fear and on the verge of a panic attack. This was by far the worse train ride ever and if it was not't for the good looking gentleman who sat next to me to comfort me I may not have lasted on my ride home instead I could've been in a hospital suffering a severe panic attack all because nothing was done about these crazy people. Where was security then??

There are many instances of bad occurrences on transport, what about the head on collision at Rhodesia in 1958 or the homeless people who sleep on the train and leave urine smells throughout the carriages or the pick pocket's on trains in France?

What can be done about this, security needs to tightened to help the innocent people who have to stand by and watch while the edge of their seat just wanting to get home after a long day at work!