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Passenger tells of train attack Passenger tells of train attack
(about 1 hour later)
A 55-year-old man travelling with his family needed hospital treatment after being attacked on a train. A 55-year-old man travelling with his family has 14 stitches in a wound above his eye after being attacked on a train in the south Wales valleys.
John McMullen was punched in the face and his 30-year-old daughter Emma, a teacher, spat at during a row with four young men at Mountain Ash station. John McMullen was punched in the face and his 30-year-old daughter Emma, a teacher, was spat at during a row with four young men at Mountain Ash station.
British Transport Police said the men had thrown food at Mr McMullen and been verbally abusive. British Transport Police said the men had thrown food at him and were verbally abusive.
Mr McMullen was taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and needed 14 stitches in a wound above his eye. Arriva Trains Wales said it was working with transport police to investigate.
He was later discharged. Mr McMullen was taken to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr and later discharged.
Arriva Trains Wales said it was working with transport police to investigate the incident. Police were called to the station after the incident at about 2230 BST on Saturday but the men had left the scene. I was punched once - I don't know if he had a ring on but I had 14 small stitches in a cut over my eye Passenger John McMullen
Police were called to the station after the incident at around 2230 BST on Saturday but the men had left the scene. I was punched once - I don't know if he had a ring on but I had 14 small stitches in a cut over my eye Passenger John McMullen
Mr McMullen, his wife Wendy and daughter were travelling on the 2145 Arriva Trains Wales service from Cardiff to Aberdare.Mr McMullen, his wife Wendy and daughter were travelling on the 2145 Arriva Trains Wales service from Cardiff to Aberdare.
"I was travelling from Cardiff Queen Street with my wife and daughter and basically four boys got on and they were abusive, not to us personally but in the carriage all the way to Mountain Ash," he said."I was travelling from Cardiff Queen Street with my wife and daughter and basically four boys got on and they were abusive, not to us personally but in the carriage all the way to Mountain Ash," he said.
"They were abusing people, shouting out.""They were abusing people, shouting out."
The family got off the train at Mountain Ash but the men opened a train window and threw food at Mr McMullen and became abusive.The family got off the train at Mountain Ash but the men opened a train window and threw food at Mr McMullen and became abusive.
Mr McMullen went back onto the train to confront the young men, who he believed were around 18 to 20 years of age. Mr McMullen went back onto the train to confront the young men, who he believed were aged about 18 to 20.
"I was punched once. I don't know if he had a ring on but I had 14 small stitches in a cut over my eye," he said."I was punched once. I don't know if he had a ring on but I had 14 small stitches in a cut over my eye," he said.
"There was an elderly couple there on the train in the carriage and my wife went back to comfort them."There was an elderly couple there on the train in the carriage and my wife went back to comfort them.
"If they weren't from around here they must've been petrified the whole length of the journey.""If they weren't from around here they must've been petrified the whole length of the journey."
Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) said in a statement it took incidents such as this "very seriously indeed".Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) said in a statement it took incidents such as this "very seriously indeed".
Internal investigationInternal investigation
"The safety of our staff and passengers is always paramount," said ATW."The safety of our staff and passengers is always paramount," said ATW.
"It is hard to comment on the actions of individuals without further internal investigation and study of the CCTV footage."It is hard to comment on the actions of individuals without further internal investigation and study of the CCTV footage.
"ATW will work very closely with British Transport Police to investigate this incident further.""ATW will work very closely with British Transport Police to investigate this incident further."
Det Con Yvonne Windsor, the investigating officer for British Transport Police, said: "We have made local enquiries, spoken with witnesses and will be reviewing CCTV from the station and on board the train. Det Con Yvonne Windsor, the investigating officer for British Transport Police, said: "We have made local inquiries, spoken with witnesses and will be reviewing CCTV from the station and on board the train.
"I am treating this incident very seriously and ask anyone with any information about this assault to come forward.""I am treating this incident very seriously and ask anyone with any information about this assault to come forward."
Behaviour on trains, particularly valley services, has been a concern for transport police and Arriva Trains Wales. The whole community must respond to social problems that are...putting passengers' safety at risk Simon Pickering, Passenger Focus Behaviour on trains, particularly valley services, has been a concern for transport police and Arriva Trains Wales. The whole community must respond to social problems that are... putting passengers' safety at risk Simon Pickering, Passenger Focus
British Transport Police carried out an operation at Pontypridd station this summer to help deter knife crime, anti-social behaviour and fare evasion.British Transport Police carried out an operation at Pontypridd station this summer to help deter knife crime, anti-social behaviour and fare evasion.
Arriva Trains Wales also set up a campaign across Wales earlier this year aimed at improving safety and behaviour on trains and at stations.Arriva Trains Wales also set up a campaign across Wales earlier this year aimed at improving safety and behaviour on trains and at stations.
And a crackdown on alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour at stations was launched in the Rhondda last December. A crackdown on alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour at stations was also launched in Rhondda last December.
Simon Pickering, of rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, said problems on the railway were often an extension of wider social issues.Simon Pickering, of rail consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, said problems on the railway were often an extension of wider social issues.
"The whole community must respond to social problems that are spilling onto the railway and putting passengers' safety at risk," he said."The whole community must respond to social problems that are spilling onto the railway and putting passengers' safety at risk," he said.
"Passenger Focus continues to work with Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail and others to address safety problems on the valley lines but passengers continue to rate station safety poorly with only 55% of passengers satisfied with their personal security."Passenger Focus continues to work with Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail and others to address safety problems on the valley lines but passengers continue to rate station safety poorly with only 55% of passengers satisfied with their personal security.
"In comparison, 74% of passengers are happy with personal security on board the train.""In comparison, 74% of passengers are happy with personal security on board the train."
• Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact British Transport Police anonymously on 0800 405040 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Anyone with information about the incident can contact British Transport Police anonymously on 0800 405040 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.