Bedbugs have again reportedly been spotted on Southeastern trains travelling between London and Kent, with six cancelled services on Thursday linked to parasite sightings between two seats, according to reports.
The alleged outbreak was discovered on a train travelling from Bexley's Slade Green Depot on Thursday at about 6.30am, due to call at London Charing Cross. Photographs appear to show parasites crawling between Southeastern's blue-and-black seat upholstery.
Internal reports and denial
An internal email, also sent on Thursday morning, said: “A driver in Hastings train crew rom [sic] reported three bed bugs on a poster near the door,” reports The Telegraph.
However, the train company has strongly denied any infestations. A spokesperson said: “There have been no bedbugs found on Southeastern trains in areas used by passengers.”
According to an internal incident log, a train was removed from service upon arrival at Dartford, after an off-duty member of Kent Integrated Control Centre staff reported a sighting. The carriages remained out of use on Friday. Southeastern insisted that specialist contractors found no trace of bedbugs in passenger areas.
Further sightings and earlier incident
Sources claimed that similar bedbugs were seen on Thursday's 10.45am Charing Cross to Hastings service, resulting in the 12.50am return service being cancelled.
It followed a similar incident earlier this month, when bedbugs were found in drivers' cabs. According to internal messages sent at the time, drivers refused even to get aboard affected trains.
Union and company responses
Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staff Association trade union, said: “Passengers boarding trains should not have to worry about taking bedbugs home, and our transport workers deserve to feel safe at work.
“It’s vital that train operators act quickly, thoroughly cleaning affected carriages and delivering professional pest treatment where needed. Passengers and staff must have reassurance that the problem has been dealt with properly.”
David Wornham, customer experience director at Southeastern, told The Telegraph: “We are disappointed that The Daily Telegraph has continued to imply that bedbugs are on our railway.
“Despite a number of suspected sightings, found to be other insects, expert contractors have confirmed that there have been no bedbugs found on Southeastern trains in areas used by passengers. That was the case two weeks ago and remains the case today.”
