BIG-hearted rail bosses came to the rescue of a Southampton teenager who nodded off and missed her station.

Emma Mucci, 16, fell asleep on the 10.10pm Virgin Reading to Southampton service and woke up in Bournemouth - with no cash and no way of getting back to her house in Bitterne.

But when the tearful teenager told her tale of woe to a guard, he immediately came to her rescue. Staff organised a cab to take her home and Virgin footed the £70 bill.

"I didn't feel very well when I got on the train at Reading and I fell asleep straight away,'' said Emma, who had been visiting boyfriend Sean Phelan on Sunday.

"When I woke up I was in Bournemouth. I went to the end of the train and spoke to one of the staff. I was crying and really upset but he said not to worry, he would get me a taxi and it wouldn't cost me.'' Emma phoned her mum, Sharon, at 11.30pm to explain what had happened, and 45 minutes later was back at home.

"It was so good of Virgin to make sure she got home safely,'' her mother said. "I can't thank the train company enough."

Alan Shotter, of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee for Southern England, said: "Virgin should be congratulated. I am delighted the company acted so responsibly."

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