Greta Tweets From a Train, and Rail Firm Feels Dissed

But young activist says she thinks overcrowded trains are great
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 16, 2019 6:21 AM CST
Greta Tweets From a Train, and Rail Firm Feels Dissed
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a climate march in Turin, Italy, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019.   (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

The tweet seemed harmless enough, but when you're Greta Thunberg, people pay extra attention. Over the weekend, the 16-year-old climate activist tweeted a photo of herself sitting on the floor of a train surrounded by luggage. "Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany," she wrote. "And I’m finally on my way home!" After a year on the road attending climate summits and protests—but avoiding air travel because of its effect on the climate—Thunberg is indeed on her way back home to Sweden, reports the Guardian. But her train tweet didn't sit well with German rail company Deutsche Bahn. "We were happy that you traveled with us ... but it would have been even nicer, had you also reported how friendly and competently you were looked after by our team at your seat in the first class," it tweeted.

The dig prompted Thunberg to clarify that she did get a seat for part of her journey and to suggest the rail company saw an insult where none was intended. "We sat on the floor on 2 different trains," she wrote. "After Göttingen I got a seat. This is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!" The AP has some context on why DB might be a wee bit sensitive on the subject: It once had a reputation for punctuality but has taken flak in recent years for late trains, cancellations, and high fares. (Thunberg says another of her statements was misinterpreted in recent days.)

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