Southern responds after passenger told his 'feet smell'

Passenger Joe Mason was travelling on the 10.13am train from Southampton Central to London Victoria on August 28 last year.

After boarding in Southampton, Joe says he took his shoe off due to painful blisters on his foot.

The Portsmouth man claimed that before the train left the station, he was approached by the ticket conductor for Southern, who told him to put his shoe back on as other passengers had complained.

Joe said he was shouted at by the member of staff, who told him that he needed to sort out his body odour.

Southern Rail passenger, Joe Mason (Image: Submitted)The frustrated rail passenger claimed that he was even told he was ‘dirty'.

He told the Echo that the Southern staff member then told him he was lying about his medical condition and even threatened to get the transport police if he did not put on his shoe.

At the time of the incident, Southern said it was carrying out an investigation into what happened.

READ MORE: Train passenger 'threatened with police due to his smelly feet'

The investigation has now concluded, and a spokesperson for Southern said: “Our full investigation confirmed that our on-board supervisor, responding to complaints from other passengers, attempted to deal with the unusual situation as sensitively as possible, as we would expect.

“We strongly refute the allegations made against them.”

Joe Mason was on a Southern service from Southampton when he was told to put his shoe back on (Image: Joe Mason)

Reacting to the news that Southern Rail had supported the action that the Southern staff member took during the incident, Joe said: “I think the company is brushing the issue under the carpet.

“I had a ticket like all the other customers on the train.

“We have all be in a position where we have been in a public place and someone near to us might not have the best personal hygiene – that is just life.

“To humiliate and degrade someone publicly in this way is just not acceptable.”