Major disruption between London St Pancras International and Bedford expected until the end of the day 

Route(s) affected

Between London St Pancras International and Bedford

Description

Damage to the overhead electric wires between London St Pancras International and Bedford means that all lines are blocked. As a result, trains running between these stations will be cancelled, severely delayed or revised.

Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.

A visual disruption map video is available.

East Midlands customer advice:

Please DO NOT TRAVEL on Intercity or Connect routes today.

The EMR Connect route is not able to run between London St Pancras and Kettering. An hourly shuttle train will operate between Kettering and Corby only in both directions.

Tickets dated Thursday 13 August can be used on East Midlands Railway services on Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 and Monday 17 August instead. Please note that Strike Action will affect your ability to use your ticket on trains to/from London St Pancras on Saturday 15 August.

Thameslink customer advice:

We advise you do NOT travel.

If you are already on a train your journey will take longer than usual.

Trains are unable to run between London St Pancras international and Bedford.

Please talk to station staff, look at the information boards or check your journey planner for the most recent information.

If you're waiting on a train which is delayed between stations:

If your train is delayed between stations, please remain where you are and listen to announcements, or speak to staff for further information. We'll get you moving as soon as possible. We're aware of your location, and teams will be doing everything they can to help you continue your journey.

Please don't leave the train unless you are asked to do so. Other trains may still be moving in the area, and the track is also a very hazardous environment.

Can I use my ticket with another operator?

You can travel on the following services at no additional cost:

• Thameslink services between London St Pancras International and Peterborough

• Great Northern services between London St Pancras International and Peterborough

• East Midlands Railway between London St Pancras International and Bedford

• London Northwestern Railway between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central

• London Underground between all London terminals

• London Buses between London St Pancras International and Elstree & Borehamwood

Can I use my ticket with another operator South of London?

You can travel on the following services at no additional cost:

• Thameslink services between London Bridge and Brighton

• Southern services between London Victoria and Brighton

• Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria

Planning your journey:

You can use live departure boards, a live map of the network and the alternative route guide to help you.

If you're travelling in the London area, you can plan journeys on alternative routes by using the TfL Journey Planner.

The Thameslink app will also help you plan your journey.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Thameslink have got disruption to their services because of a problem with the pantograph equipment. Pantographs are roof-mounted devices which allow trains to collect electricity from the overhead wires.

Within a pantograph, a spring-loaded arm holds a carbon tube against the overhead wires. This slides along the wires whilst the train is in motion, allowing trains to be continuously powered.

There are various faults which may occur - for example, electrical faults within the pantograph equipment itself, or debris causing an obstruction, which can prevent the train from drawing power.

In most cases, if a fault is detected, the train will stop and the driver will receive a warning message in their cab. Safety checks will then be needed to investigate whether it could be an issue with the train, or an external fault with debris or the wires themselves. This can take some time, which leads to a delay to your journey.

Thameslink are currently investigating today's incident alongside Network Rail, making sure they can run services as normal.

Please continue to check back here for updates, as the exact type of issue will have a bearing on how long your journey will take, and whether it's possible to use the route at all. This means they may need to change their advice for your travel plans.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.