Commuter Rail Conductor 'Demanded Passenger Get Up So She Could Sit and Chat'

I've been commuting on the Framingham Worcester commuter rail line for over 10 years. Before today I thought I'd seen, heard, experienced it all. From a passenger jumping off the train because he was on the wrong one, to being pushed, to countless hours of train delay, the quiet car being cancelled due to it violating the First Amendment, and oh so much more.

Today I add a new experience to my "today on the train" repertoire of stories.

Today on the train I went to sit in a seat that didn't have a person in it, but did have an abandoned Dunkin Donuts iced-coffee. I placed the coffee on the floor and took a seat. A gentleman in a seat near by told me it belonged to the conductor. I shrugged, having no clue what that meant or how it applied to me sitting in the seat. Soon after I took the seat, the conductor who later identified herself as Stacy, told me it was her seat and I had to get up. The following conversation followed:

Conductor: That's my seat (she said pointed to me).
Me: Am I not allowed to sit here?
Conductor: Yes, but that's my seat.
Me: The seat was empty so I took it.
Conductor: I left all of my stuff on the seat.
Me: There was an abandoned iced coffee and I moved it so I could sit.
Conductor: You. Are. In. My. Seat. There are other empty seats on the train.

Doesn't a paying customer trump a conductor who wants to sit and chat with her friend? I did get up and stand, as my stop was approaching by this time, and proceed to take pictures, and posted to Twitter. She knew I was doing because looked at me and said "I'm Stacy, 515 for the letter I'm sure you are writing." Then turned to her buddy, the guy who initially told me whose coffee was on the seat, and continued their chat.

I called the MBTA Commuter rail as soon as I got off the train, and apparently they had already seen my Tweet. The person on the phone refused to comment on much, but when I forced the issue of "Does the conductor have the right to do this?" The answer: "No you are a paying customer."

I was informed that this incident would be looked into and that I'll receive a follow up, though I'm not holding my breath.