Major disruption between Luton and London St Pancras International and through Gatwick Airport expected until 15:00 

Route(s) affected

between Luton and London St Pancras International and through Gatwick Airport

Description

There have been multiple incidents across the network this morning affecting East Midlands, Gatwick Express, GWR, Southern, Thameslink services.

A person has been hit by a train between Luton and St Albans City and also in the Gatwick Airport area. Whilst the emergency services attend to both incidents, trains running between Luton and London St Pancras International and through Gatwick Airport may be severely delayed by up to 60 minutes, cancelled or revised.

Major disruption is expected until 15:00

A visual disruption video is available.

East Midlands Railway customer advice:

How does this affect my train?

Trains running through the area will be unable to run in both directions at present between Luton and London St Pancras International.

Services on the Connect route between Corby and London St Pancras International are unable to run.

How do I get where I need to be?

You should continue to travel as originally planned however your journey may be delayed by up to 60 minutes.

At present a bus has been sourced to arrive at Corby and Kettering, which will shuttle between both stations in both directions to keep you on the move.

East Midlands Railway have sourced a bus to depart Leicester at 10:25 to call at Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, and Northampton.

When the bus arrives at Northampton it will continue to shuttle between Wellingborough and Northampton to connect you with London Northwestern services to London Euston, Birmingham, or Bletchley (change here for Bedford) Your ticket will be automatically accepted on these services.

Further buses have been sourced at Leicester (ETA 11:30), Wellingborough (ETA 10:30) and Bedford (ETA 11:00) which will begin running between Leicester and Bedford calling at Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford.

Trains are likely to experience extended delays or alterations. You should use alternative routes which will be most comfortable and the quickest way to get where you need to be. Your ticket can be used at no extra cost to travel via the following alternative routes:

Sheffield

You may travel to Doncaster where you should change for a train to London Kings Cross. It is likely to take between 2 and 2.5 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 5 minutes before the train departs.

Derby / Chesterfield

You may travel to Birmingham New Street where you should change for a train to London Euston. It is likely to take between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete this journey.

Nottingham

You may travel to Grantham where you should change for a train to London Kings Cross. It is likely to take between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete this journey. LNER, who run the trains between Grantham and London Kings Cross recommend booking a seat reservation. This can be done up to 5 minutes before the train departs.

Leicester

You may travel to Nuneaton where you should change for a train to London Euston. It is likely to take 2 hours to complete this journey.

All of these alternative route options are available in the opposite direction too. 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 promise that if you need to start your outward journey from a different operator's station due to this disruption, then you will also be able to travel back to that station when you return, regardless of if the disruption has ended or your ticket type. Our rail industry colleagues will welcome you on board with your original ticket.

Thameslink customer advice:

No trains can run between Luton and St Albans City in either direction until further notice. If you are travelling now, you may need to use an alternative route to reach your destination, and you should expect your journey to take at least 30 minutes longer than usual.

An expected service will be as follows:

Trains which run on the following routes will be suspended until further notice:

• Bedford and Three Bridges

• Bedford and East Grinstead

• Luton and Orpington

Services which run to and from Sutton (via Wimbledon or Mitcham Junction) will be significantly disrupted and may not run.

Services which run between Brighton and Bedford will instead run between Brighton and London Bridge.

Services which run between Luton and Rainham will instead run between Dartford and Rainham only.

To help you plan your journey, you can use the alternative route maps on the Thameslink website.

You can use your ticket to travel at no extra cost on:

North of London

• Thameslink and Great Northern services on any reasonable route

• East Midlands Railway between St Pancras and Bedford (for Luton and Luton Airport Parkway) - please note these services are also significantly delayed by this disruption

• London Underground services through and around London, as well as on the Northern line to High Barnet and Edgware

• London Buses on all routes between Elstree & Borehamwood and central London, between London and Dartford, and between London and Sutton / Wimbledon.

• London Northwestern Railway services between Bedford and Bletchley, and between St Albans Abbey and Watford Junction for services to / from London Euston

• Arriva Buses on routes between Luton, Leagrave, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, and Stevenage. This includes routes:

  • A / Z / X1 / X2 / X3 between Luton Airport, Luton Airport Parkway (Kimpton Road) and Luton Town

  • 4 / 4A / 23/27 / 28 between Leagrave Station and Luton Town

  • 302 between St Albans, Hatfield, and Welwyn Garden City

  • 321 between Luton, Harpenden, and St Albans, and then on to Watford Junction

  • 724 between St Albans City and Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, and Hertford North

  • 725between St Albans City and Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, and Knebworth

  • 301between St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth and Stevenage

  • 302 between St Albans, Hatfield, and Welwyn Garden City

• Uno Buses on routes between Radlett, St Albans City, and Welwyn Garden City, including routes:

  • 602 between Radlett, St Albans City, and Hatfield

  • 610 between Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, Hatfield Business Park, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, and Cockfosters (for Tube connections via the Piccadilly Line)

  • 653 between St Albans, Hatfield, and Welwyn Garden City

Across London

• Elizabeth line services between Farringdon, London Liverpool Street and Abbey Wood. This also stops at Woolwich station, from which Woolwich Arsenal station is a 10-minute distance away

• London Underground services through and around London, as well as on the Northern line to High Barnet and Edgware

• London Buses on all routes between Elstree & Borehamwood and central London, between London and Dartford, and between London and Sutton / Wimbledon

South of London

• Thameslink and Southern services on any reasonable route

• Southeastern services between London, Dartford and Rainham on any reasonable route

• London Buses on all routes between Elstree & Borehamwood and central London, between London and Dartford, and between London and Sutton / Wimbledon

• South Western Railway services between Wimbledon, Clapham Junction, and London Waterloo

• London Trams services between Wimbledon, Mitcham Junction, and East Croydon

Please note that if your journey includes replacement road transport, it will take up to an additional 30 minutes longer than usual to reach your destination.

Rail replacement buses have been requested to run a shuttle service connecting Luton / Bedford routes with Great Northern routes via Stevenage / St Neots and further connections towards London. These have not yet been confirmed, and we will update you with more information once it is available.

If you are travelling between London and Luton or Bedford:

You can use your ticket to travel on London buses as far as Elstree & Borehamwood, and on the London Underground on the Northern line towards High Barnet and Mill Hill East.

Passengers travelling to or from St Albans City can travel via St Albans Abbey and London Northwestern Railway services to/from London Euston. Your ticket will be accepted on the underground to connect between London Euston and London King's Cross St Pancras.

Passengers travelling to or from Bedford can travel on the London Northwestern service via Bletchley / Watford Junction and London Euston. Your ticket will be accepted on the underground to connect between Euston and King's Cross St. Pancras.

You can use your ticket to travel on local buses between St Albans, Harpenden, Luton, and connect with Great Northern or alternative Thameslink services at Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, or St Neots.

Please note that if your journey includes replacement road transport, it will take up to an additional 30 minutes longer than usual to reach your destination.

You can see the live departure boards, and view a live map of the network.

You can also view an alternative route guide.

Please check journey planners and station information boards before you travel and allow extra time to reach your destination.

You can also use the Thameslink app to find up-to-date travel information.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

Network Rail and the emergency services are attending the incident.

If you've been affected by what happened on the network today, there is always someone to talk to. You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 from any phone for a confidential chat.

Check before you travel:

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

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.

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.