George Osborne was forced to pay for an upgrade after sitting in a first-class train carriage with a standard-class ticket.

BBC: Your highlights of 2012 in drawings

At the station a plaque commemorates the day in 1893 when the founder of modern day India, Mohandas Gandhi, was thrown off a train for travelling in the 'white-only' first class compartment.

BBC: Sport | Cricket | World Cup 2003 | Venues Guide

On its website, Virgin Trains warns travellers they will be charged an excess or penalty fare if they board a train without a ticket or attempt to change from standard to first class without a first class ticket.

BBC: George Osborne

Similarly, what caused a minor hiatus about George Osborne's train trip back from his constituency was not the fact that he hadn't bought a first class ticket.

BBC: UK