Major Incident at Huntingdon (01/11/2025)

[IrishDave]

This post on the BBC live feed seems to suggest the team updating it don't know what the train's final destination was. I'm guessing not much info on the ground has reached them:

As it happened: Man, 32, treated as only suspect in train stabbing as staff member in life-threatening condition, police say

British Transport Police say the "heroic" man who tried to stop the attack remains in hospital. Five others have been discharged.

www.bbc.co.uk

There's been a statement on X from LNER confirming it was one of their trains:

https://x.com/lner/status/1984739293152104476

We are aware of an incident involving one of our trains. Our immediate concern is for the welfare of our customers and crew who are on board. We are in the process of gathering all the details we can and are liaising with British Transport Police.

But as far as I'm aware there's not been any official confirmation of which train the incident took place on. It may be obvious to those of us who can read a signal map on OTT and look up a headcode on RTT, or who have access to internal incident logs, but the media generally can't and don't.

 

[Annetts key]

I've noticed on signalmaps that 0Z99 is now travelling southbound over Stoke Summit, I'm guessing that's its a thunderbird to move the affected unit.

The affected train will not be moving anywhere until the police give permission. In addition, the station will be closed also until the police give permission. Both are likely being treated as crime scenes.

Even when the police release the train and the station, both are likely to need to have the clean up contractors attend.

 

[Aaron_TTL]

Moving the unit will not of even been thought of at this moment in time. That unit will be sat there for many many hours.

Also, surely the driving cab was secure during the incident so it can drive itself where it needs to go when the time is right?

 

[DNCharingX]

The large number of victims gives me the impression that this is an MTA. Terrible stuff. I hope that the victims make a full recovery, not to understate the impact on the train crew in this stressful situation. (Who could have to stay with the train, but I hope not.)

Once the dust has settled, I think this will make some very valuable learning for the industry.

 

[43096]

They will be looking at what crew are operating it, and now also, where can they send the unit to, how can they get it there for example.
Could be a case of dumping it at Peterborough and using it for service tomorrow, it could be they may get it to Doncaster to a depot.

They can look at it, but until the Police release it, it is going nowhere. Given the severity of the incident - and what has been reported so far - the Met's Counter Terrorism Command could become involved.

 

[dk1]

Brings back memories of the Summer Saturday when a similar incident occurred on a pair of Virgin Voyagers on the WCML heading from Glasgow to Paignton.

 

[Steve Harris]

Moving the unit will not of even been thought of at this moment in time. That unit will be sat there for many many hours.

Did I say that the unit would be moved straight away ? No I did not.
I simply noted that there was potentially a thunderbird on its way to move it (time unknown).

 

[800001]

They can look at it, but until the Police release it, it is going nowhere. Given the severity of the incident - and what has been reported so far - the Met's Counter Terrorism Command could become involved.

I was replying to a post about a service operating a Newark to KGX services not the incident train!

 

[dk1]

Once the dust has settled, I think this will make some very valuable learning for the industry.

I’m not quite sure how or in what way you mean. You cannot really plan or have anyway of expecting such terrible incidents in everyday life.

 

[AlterEgo]

Brings back memories of the Summer Saturday when a similar incident occurred on a pair of Virgin Voyagers on the WCML heading from Glasgow to Paignton.

Amazingly that was 20 years ago; this incident was still very much in the memory of the relevant controller when I worked with them. I think that was a grudge murder IIRC.

 

[corsaVXR]

There's been a statement on X from LNER confirming it was one of their trains:

https://x.com/lner/status/1984739293152104476

But as far as I'm aware there's not been any official confirmation of which train the incident took place on. It may be obvious to those of us who can read a signal map on OTT and look up a headcode on RTT, or who have access to internal incident logs, but the media generally can't and don't.

Responsible media won't report on which service it was until they have proof from a source of authority - too many people will be looking to see if they have relatives/friends on the affected train, and the consequences of a mistake are high.

 

[sad1e]

Not sure if this has already been said but apparently according to the Sun, the ruling has been changed from 10 to 12 involved, 2 fatal.

Boy, 17, knifed in London hours before train attack - as man, 32, charged

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was knifed in London hours before the Huntingdon train attack – as cops say both incidents were linked. British Transport Police confirmed the teenager was assaulted at Pont…

www.thesun.co.uk

"12 people in total were taken away for treatment".

It has now been confirmed there have been no fatalities involving the incident as of yet, not sure where I got the 2 fatally wounded information from.

 

[800001]

Did I say that the unit would be moved straight away ? No I did not.
I simply noted that there was potentially a thunderbird on its way to move it (time unknown).

I never said that you said it would be moved straight away!

However common sense implies the incident train will be there several hours. If they are sending a thunderbird south now, those drivers will have certain hours they can work.

 

[AlterEgo]

I’m not quite sure how or in what way you mean. You cannot really plan or have anyway of expecting such terrible incidents in everyday life.

A terrorist attack involving multiple stabbings is a foreseeable risk. If that is indeed what has happened - and it is unclear at present if that is the case - it is important the railway learns from it.

 

[D365]

You cannot really plan or have anyway of expecting such terrible incidents in everyday life.

A terrorist attack involving multiple stabbings is a foreseeable risk. If that is indeed what has happened, it is important the railway learns from it.

Surely that is exactly what emergency response drills are for. But right now it’s 100% off-topic for the ongoing discussion of this event.

 

[popeter45]

Not sure if this has already been said but apparently according to the Sun, the ruling has been changed from 10 to 12 involved, 2 fatal.

if that is the case, my condolenced to those affected

 

[800001]

I’m not quite sure how or in what way you mean. You cannot really plan or have anyway of expecting such terrible incidents in everyday life.

I agree, all railway organisations train to deal with multiple scenarios, not sure how the railway can prevent this type of incident

 

[Bungle73]

A terrorist attack involving multiple stabbings is a foreseeable risk. If that is indeed what has happened - and it is unclear at present if that is the case - it is important the railway learns from it.

By doing what exactly?

 

[dk1]

Amazingly that was 20 years ago; this incident was still very much in the memory of the relevant controller when I worked with them. I think that was a grudge murder IIRC.

The train manager blocked off vestibule doorways from what I remember. I was staying in Torquay as usual and planned to use that service from Exeter St.Davids hence why I often think of it.

 

[KevinBrum12]

The large number of victims gives me the impression that this is an MTA. Terrible stuff. I hope that the victims make a full recovery, not to understate the impact on the train crew in this stressful situation. (Who could have to stay with the train, but I hope not.)

Once the dust has settled, I think this will make some very valuable learning for the industry.

The crew would have to stay with the train unit they were released by the Incident Commander and they would have to follow the same rules that apply when a line is blocked by the likes of a blown down tree or a OHL failure.
It reminds us railwaymen and women are a special breed of professionals who have to be prepared for anything.

 

[dk1]

Surely that is exactly what emergency response drills are for. But right now it’s 100% off-topic for the ongoing discussion of this event.

Could happen in any shop, high street or pub. That’s what I was trying to get across.

 

[ilkestonian]

I've noticed on signalmaps that 0Z99 is now travelling southbound over Stoke Summit, I'm guessing that's its a thunderbird to move the affected unit.

Maybe to drag 4L07 away from the affected area?

 

[dk1]

I agree, all railway organisations train to deal with multiple scenarios, not sure how the railway can prevent this type of incident

Thank you. It’s not something anybody can plan for.

 

[Banham7]

1B91 briefly popped into the headshunt at Newark Northgate to allow for EMR's 2T72 to be platformed and turned around, which has had a knock on delay due to this.

 

[AlterEgo]

By doing what exactly?

By finding out exactly what has happened, whether the railway responded in the most expedient way which prioritised safety and the bigger picture, by ensuring or revising procedures if they are found not to be optimised. We dont know any of the details yet, but incidents of this nature will likely also provide some learnings as well as the tragedy of lost life.

In my time we revised the telephone bomb threat protocol because it was found to be outdated and not in keeping with contemporary threats. (For example, it assumed the caller was Irish)

 

[Steve Harris]

I never said that you said it would be moved straight away!

However common sense implies the incident train will be there several hours. If they are sending a thunderbird south now, those drivers will have certain hours they can work.

You inferred it though by quoting my post. If you was making a general observation it's normal Internet etiquette to not quote but simply reply. That way no one can misread what anyone says.

 

[Horizon22]

Two people have been arrested, as per Sky News via BTP.

Multiple people stabbed and two arrested
British Transport Police says they are responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon "where multiple people have been stabbed"

Two people have been arrested, BTP say.

"Officers are in attendance alongside Cambridgeshire Police."

 

[AlterEgo]

The train manager blocked off vestibule doorways from what I remember. I was staying in Torquay as usual and planned to use that service from Exeter St.Davids hence why I often think of it.

Yes and locked the doors as the suspect had broken a window to exit the train. Train manager did superbly that day.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Why is the line shut if that is the case? One platform is blocked.

The area needs to be sterile so not to contaminate any evidence, i.e any weapons that have been discarded can be recovered swiftly for finger prints and DNA samples.

 

[sonic2009]

Thoughts are with everyone involved in this terrible situation.

The lines may have been closed after the incident due to thought and guidelines by many members of staff in both TOC and Network Rail.

It will be interesting to see the next few hours/days about the background to this incident.