A passenger injured in a train crash claims to have been offered just £4 compensation after the operator blamed him for not completing his journey.

Wil Kitcher suffered whiplash when the Abellio Greater Anglia train he was travelling on crashed into a tractor on a level crossing.

The 36-year-old, from Tunbridge Wells, was unable to return to work as a service delivery manager for three days after, so called Abellio asking for a refund on the £51 ticket.

But the firm is said to have refused and allegedly only offered him £4 saying that it was his fault that he left the train at Thetford, Norfolk and completed his journey to London by other means.

Mr Kitcher said: "At the time I wasn’t bothered because I was just happy to be safe. "When it happened there was genuinely a moment where I thought I might die.

"But then I sat at home for three days, and thought that I should really be able to reclaim the ticket after what had happened.

"When I phoned Abellio there was no apology and they told me that because I’d got off at Thetford, they had to refund me to that point and offered me £4.

"It was an insult and I didn’t take it out of principle. There’s been no compassion shown by Abellio at all. I’ve not gone after any compensation, but I think a refund is fair.

"They also said they were commended for what staff did at the scene, but I didn’t see anyone there at the time."

Mr Kitcher was sitting in the first carriage of the Norwich to Cambridge service, which was carrying 135 passengers.

There were long delays when the train hit a tractor on the crossing at around 12.30pm in Roundham, Norfolk.

The tractor's driver was airlifted to hospital and several passengers, including Mr Kitcher, were left with minor injuries.

Two other passengers are also yet to hear from Abellio, despite giving details to the British Transport Police (BTP). The BTP is then supposed to send the names to Abellio.

A spokesman for Abellio yesterday denied even offering Mr Kitcher compensation.

He said: "We are sorry if there has been any confusion on this issue, but we have not offered Mr Kitcher £4 in compensation.

"At this point in the post-incident inquiry, no compensation has been offered or sent as it is inappropriate at this stage.

"When it happened there was genuinely a moment where I thought I might die" - Wil Kitcher

"However, we have sent £50 vouchers as a goodwill gesture and a £50 cheque to cover any immediate expenses, to all those passengers whose names have been passed to us by the British Transport Police.

"We are still seeking all the passengers’ names from the British Transport Police, who have yet to pass on the full list of customers involved.

"We are acting and will continue to act in a supportive, sympathetic, helpful and customer-focused way in response to this incident.

"It is the subject of a number of independent and rail industry inquiries and we also need to act in accordance with the regulatory guidelines and legal parameters that govern such situations.

"There is a proper process for compensation in such circumstances and that will be followed."