National Rail has alerted passengers travelling between London St Pancras International and Leicester to expect disruptions until at least the end of Saturday, as emergency services remain at the scene of an incident.
A train driver lost their life and 89 people were injured following a collision between two passenger trains between Bedford and Luton on Friday, June 19.
Eleven people sustained “very serious” injuries and 22 were seriously injured when the two passenger trains collided. A further 56 people suffered minor injuries.
The crash occurred at approximately 5.15pm and all lines between Luton and Bedford have been shut as emergency services flood the area.
View 4 Images(Image: Jamie Lashmar/PA)
“Whilst they carry out their work, all lines are closed,” National Rail stated, referring to emergency services.
“Trains between London St Pancras International and Leicester will be cancelled or revised. Major disruption is expected until at least the end of the day,” National Rail confirmed.
“NO trains will run between Bedford and London St Pancras International.”
London Northwestern Railway services are also impacted by this incident.
East Midlands Railway has yet to confirm its timetable for services operating north of Bedford for Saturday.
National Rail announced that if a passenger was scheduled to travel on Friday, June 19, their ticket will be valid for travel on Saturday, June 20.
“Your ticket can be used at no extra cost to travel via the following alternative routes,” it stated.
View 4 Images(Image: Sky News)
These alternative train routes can be used until the end of Saturday:
Sheffield
- You may travel to Doncaster with CrossCountry, TransPennine Express or Northern where you should change for a train to London Kings Cross.
- It is likely to take between two and two-and-a-half hours to complete this journey.
- LNER, who run the trains between Doncaster and London Kings Cross, recommend booking a seat reservation. This can be done up to five minutes before the train departs at the LNER website.
Derby / Chesterfield
- You may travel to Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry where you should change for a train to London Euston with London Northwestern Railway or Avanti West Coast.
- It is likely to take between two-and-a-half and three hours to complete this journey.
Nottingham
- You may travel to Grantham with EMR where you should change for a train to London Kings Cross.
- It is likely to take between two and two-and-a-half hours to complete this journey.
- LNER recommend booking a seat reservation.
Leicester
- You may travel to Nuneaton with CrossCountry where you should change for a train to London Euston with Avanti West Coast or London Northwestern Railway.
- It is likely to take two hours to complete this journey.
View 4 Images(Image: Dr Pete Knapp / SWNS)
National Rail confirmed that all of these alternative route options are also available in the opposite direction.
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“Don’t worry about your ticket, other train operators know about the disruption to your journey and your ticket can be used at no extra cost on their trains,” National Rail said.
National Rail added that East Midlands Railway has pledged that should a passenger need to begin their outward journey from a different operator’s station due to this disruption, they will be permitted to travel back to that station upon their return, regardless of whether the disruption has ended or what ticket type they hold.