AN OFF licence owner in St Albans has grown to feel so sorry for long-suffering First Capital Connect (FCC) commuters that he has started offering season ticket holders a special discount on wine.

Graham Cork, director of independent wine company Grapeland which has a shop in Victoria Street, has spoken to many of the train operator’s weary passengers over the last few months when they go into the store to buy wine after long and stressful journeys home.

And after hearing about their ongoing woes, Graham has decided to offer FCC passengers a discount on wine under his ‘If you use the train, we feel your pain’ scheme.

He said: “Many of our customers tell us about their experiences with FCC, and few of them are positive ones. We are therefore offering 10 per cent off all wines to anyone who produces a current FCC season ticket until Valentine’s Day.”

He added: “It won’t make the trains run better but a glass or two of one of our wide range of wines may help reduce the stress levels.”

Graham, who also has Grapeland stores in Marshalswick and Chorleywood, said he has already had FCC customers coming into the shop flashing their season tickets.