- Were YOU forced to move? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
A rail company has sparked fury after a disabled passenger was forced to move to let Coronation Street stars headed to the British Soap Awards could enjoy their own ‘exclusive’ carriage.
Passengers were denied access to their allocated seats by Avanti West Coast staff on Saturday so the TV stars could sit together and have a carriage to themselves.
The Corrie stars, alongside their makeup artists, were travelling from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston to attend the awards at the Hackney Empire theatre.
Travellers spotted a sign on a carriage door the same day reading ‘Exclusive carriage – Sorry for today’s journey this carriage is not available’.
The sign added: ‘If you have a reservation please speak to the host for your reallocated seat!’
Once the journey was underway, an Avanti staff member reportedly guarded the door to stop anyone from entering as the cast drank prosecco.
Several stars posted photographs of themselves during the journey, including Cait Fitton and Channique Sterling-Brown.
Passenger Matthew Nichols furiously took to social media to report the incident, posting on X: ‘Good morning from an @AvantiWestCoast train where disabled passengers are being removed from their pre-existing seat reservations so that the cast of a TV show can sit together in one carriage.
A sign on a carriage door for an earlier train that day read ‘Exclusive carriage – Sorry for today’s journey this carriage is not available’
Coronation Street stars and their makeup artists travelled to the event via train
Coronation actor Cait Fitton was on the train from Manchester to London
‘Makes you wonder if Avanti prioritises corporate bookings over disabled customers.’
He added: ‘Once the journey was underway, an Avanti staff member [stood] guard at the door to the coach, prohibiting anyone else from entering.
‘At the same time, some of the cast from the TV show were keen to bring their friends through from the adjacent coach to join them… in drinking prosecco.
‘So, disabled people are removed from their seat reservations whilst Avanti staff guard the doors so that the actors from a TV show (why do they *have* to sit together?) can drink Prosecco and bring their mates in.’
In response, Avanti West Coast @AvantiWestCoast replied: ‘Hi Matthew. We’re extremely sorry to hear this. Are you able to please provide me with further information about your experience, and let me know which service you’re travelling on via DM? Many thanks!’
A Coronation Street source clarified that the cast had reserved seats in a separate coach but were asked to change coaches, and that they did seek assurance that this would not be an issue for other passengers.
Avanti West Coast allows business passengers to request use of a private train carriage using their VIP service.
Former Corrie actress Tracie Bennett described the incident as ‘horrendous behaviour’, while comedian Jennie Éclair said she could not believe the actors would be ‘complicit’.
Corrie star Liam McCheyne also travelled on the train from Manchester to London
Corrie star Channique Sterling-Brown posted ‘London bound with the girlies for the soap awards’
Tanisha Gorey on the train from Manchester to London for the British Soap Awards
Stars of the country’s favourite soaps descended on Hackney Empire in London on Saturday for the annual bash which was hosted by Jane McDonald.
But it was the BBC’s EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one.
They kicked off their wins with Best Episode which went to Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985.
EastEnders also won Scene of the Year for Angie Watts’ Shock Return while Navin Chowdhry won Best Villain for his role of Nish Panesar.
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: ‘We are sorry to hear about the customer’s experience on board one of our services and we have spoken to them to understand what happened on Saturday.
‘We are looking into the circumstances and we will review our processes to ensure all our customers get the highest standard of service when travelling with us.’
