National Rail has issued an update for passengers traveling between London St Pancras International and Leicester, warning that disruptions will continue until at least the end of Saturday as emergency services respond to a fatal train collision.
A train driver was killed and 89 people were injured when two passenger trains collided between Bedford and Luton on Friday, June 19. Eleven people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and 56 sustained minor injuries.
The crash occurred at approximately 5:15 PM, blocking all lines between Luton and Bedford. Emergency services are at the scene, and National Rail stated, "Whilst they carry out their work, all lines are closed." Trains between London St Pancras International and Leicester will be canceled or revised, with major disruption expected until at least the end of the day. No trains will run between Bedford and London St Pancras International.
London Northwestern Railway services are also affected. East Midlands Railway has not yet confirmed its Saturday timetable for services north of Bedford.
Passengers with tickets for Friday, June 19, can use them on Saturday, June 20, at no extra cost via alternative routes. National Rail provided the following options:
- Sheffield: Travel to Doncaster with CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, or Northern, then change for a train to London Kings Cross. Journey time: 2 to 2.5 hours. LNER recommends seat reservations.
- Derby/Chesterfield: Travel to Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry, then change for London Euston with London Northwestern Railway or Avanti West Coast. Journey time: 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Nottingham: Travel to Grantham with EMR, then change for London Kings Cross. Journey time: 2 to 2.5 hours. LNER recommends seat reservations.
- Leicester: Travel to Nuneaton with CrossCountry, then change for London Euston with Avanti West Coast or London Northwestern Railway. Journey time: 2 hours.
These options are also available in the opposite direction. National Rail assured passengers, "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."
East Midlands Railway added that passengers who need to start their outward journey from a different operator's station can travel back to that station on their return, regardless of whether the disruption has ended or their ticket type.
