A train employee has been terminated from their position following an incident where first-class passengers were served sausage rolls that had been retrieved from a bin on the train. The employee, Peter Duffy, who had been with LNER for a considerable period, faced allegations of preparing snacks from discarded items for passengers. Duffy mentioned that he went to great lengths to satisfy a customer’s request when faced with a lack of available stock.
Another crew member overheard laughter coming from the train’s kitchen before the food was served. This crew member raised concerns upon realizing that the bin where the sausage rolls were discarded was empty, contradicting the earlier information that no rolls were available.
The incident occurred on an LNER service departing from York when two first-class passengers requested sausage rolls. The colleague who reported the incident stated that the rolls had been thrown away, leading to the retrieval of the discarded food by Duffy from the bin.
Subsequent investigations revealed CCTV footage showing Duffy retrieving the discarded food and reheating it before it was served to customers by his colleague. Both employees were suspended pending an inquiry into potential breaches of food safety standards. During the investigation, Duffy explained that he believed he was going the extra mile for customer satisfaction, citing personal issues including anxiety and depression.
A union representative mentioned that Duffy experienced transient global amnesia on the day of the incident, affecting his memory temporarily. Despite his colleague denying witnessing Duffy retrieving the rolls from the bin, the tribunal found her testimony unreliable. Duffy was ultimately dismissed for gross misconduct in July 2023, with his subsequent claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination being dismissed in a later tribunal in August 2025.
The tribunal judge supported LNER’s decision to dismiss Duffy, stating that his actions were not linked to his disability. An LNER spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to customer welfare and safety, highlighting that the incident did not meet their usual high standards, leading to immediate action being taken.