Major Incident at Huntingdon (01/11/2025)

[ainsworth74]

Okay, I'm going to have log-off now as I need to get some sleep. This thread has become considerably less busy as the night has worn on, thank you all for your contributions and keeping things, more or less, running smoothly. I've been solo for most of the evening so it's been appreciated that you've kept my job fairly easy.

As I am going offline, and it's likely that my fellow Forum Staff now won't be on again until the morning, I am going to ask everyone to keep the following in mind overnight:

1) This is an extremely upsetting and emotional incident. Keep in mind the nature and tone of your posts. If you cannot say something politely and nicely do not say it.

2) The media do read the Forum so anything you speculate about could easily be reported more widely as fact. Equally people who were involved or know people who were involved could well read what you say. Keep that in mind.

3) If you're going to post pictures or refer to external sources keep the Forum Rules in mind around quoting and providing text descriptions.

4) Try and keep things on topic please, if you do want to discuss something that isn't on topic feel free to start a new thread.

Thank you all very much in advance for abiding by the above and the Forum Rules in general.

 

[chris89]

Sky reporting no fatalities and 10 people taken to hospital.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Nov 2025 ==


Yes it is the back of the train as my local knowledge tells me that the camera operator is standing on Brampton Road railway bridge.

Seen that but the say 9 out of 10 with life threatening injuries.

Also now Counter Terrorism police now involved.

Although much more importantly all thoughts of those involved.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Given the red rather than white headlights on the train, might that photo be from behind the back of the train, rather than in front of the train?

Yes that's the rear of the train in the southbound platform 2, photographed from Brampton Rd bridge.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Okay, I'm going to have log-off now as I need to get some sleep. This thread has become considerably less busy as the night has worn on, thank you all for your contributions and keeping things, more or less, running smoothly. I've been solo for most of the evening so it's been appreciated that you've kept my job fairly easy.

As I am going offline, and it's likely that my fellow Forum Staff now won't be on again until the morning, I am going to ask everyone to keep the following in mind overnight:

1) This is an extremely upsetting and emotional incident. Keep in mind the nature and tone of your posts. If you cannot say something politely and nicely do not say it.

2) The media do read the Forum so anything you speculate about could easily be reported more widely as fact. Equally people who were involved or know people who were involved could well read what you say. Keep that in mind.

3) If you're going to post pictures or refer to external sources keep the Forum Rules in mind around quoting and providing text descriptions.

4) Try and keep things on topic please, if you do want to discuss something that isn't on topic feel free to start a new thread.

Thank you all very much in advance for abiding by the above and the Forum Rules in general.

Thanks for your hard work

 

[Horizon22]

Seen that but the say 9 out of 10 with life threatening injuries.

Also now Counter Terrorism police now involved.

Although much more importantly all thoughts of those involved.

Yes this sadly means that whilst there are no immediate fatalities, people will be fighting for their lives in hospital. Thoughts are of course with those immediately impacted and their friends and family with hopes for a full recovery.

 

[Class 170101]

There is also a security alert around the incident train now.

BBC 5 Live Stephen Nolan show has interviewed a witness between about 00:05 and 00:20 (time) and suggested they left their bags and run for their lives, so doubtless anything left behind will need to be checked to make sure its safe.

Stephen Nolan - 01/11/2025 - BBC Sounds

The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.

www.bbc.co.uk

Not sure I can do better than that in terms of quoting etc my apologies

 

[Hadders]

Normally a LNER train travelling from Peterborough to Kings Cross would go fast line through Huntingdon (there are no fast line platforms). Unless the train was booked slow line, there must have been some pretty swift communication between the driver and signaller to get the train onto the slow line so it could stop in the platform at Huntingdon.

 

[KevinBrum12]

BBC 5 Live Stephen Nolan show has interviewed a witness between about 00:05 and 00:20 (time) and suggested they left their bags and run for their lives, so doubtless anything left behind will need to be checked to make sure its safe.

Stephen Nolan - 01/11/2025 - BBC Sounds

The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.

www.bbc.co.uk

Not sure I can do better than that in terms of quoting etc my apologies

Have listened and she is a very brave woman. When the worst happens though it does bring out the best in people, like the residents in the nearby housing estate to Huntingdon station opening their doors to passengers from the train. The kindness of strangers.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Have listened and she is a very brave woman. When the worst happens though it does bring out the best in people, like the residents in the nearby housing estate to Huntingdon station opening their doors to passengers from the train. The kindness of strangers.

Very kind though also very trusting - I think something that must have been particularly terrifying must have been not knowing who was a scared passenger and who might have been a perpetrator with a weapon in his/her rucksack, especially if there were more than one.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes this sadly means that whilst there are no immediate fatalities, people will be fighting for their lives in hospital. Thoughts are of course with those immediately impacted and their friends and family with hopes for a full recovery.

Yes. It may well be worse and sadder news by morning. We can only hope it won’t be.

 

[Crossover]

Normally a LNER train travelling from Peterborough to Kings Cross would go fast line through Huntingdon (there are no fast line platforms). Unless the train was booked slow line, there must have been some pretty swift communication between the driver and signaller to get the train onto the slow line so it could stop in the platform at Huntingdon.

I feel like the path showed UF earlier (and other trains are booked similarly). It feels like some very rapid action has taken place to get it platformed

 

[MrToad]

Some general questions:

Would the LNER train have video recordings in each carriage - I know the SWR trains near me have signs up saying CCTV is in use? This will be invaluable as evidence and will show the value such facilities will have on the railway. I am also speculating the ticket purchasing history of the perpetrators could be of interest into the investigation - what other journeys they made, when, who with?

Also looking at the fingertip search what I assume the police are undertaking - is that Azuma (?) train completely sealed in that there are no opening windows or doors, so nothing could have been thrown or discarded from the train until it got into Huntingdon? If that is the case, will they be able to move the train to a siding to allow it to be examined in greater detail, or will the train be left in situ for the search?

Also I vaguely recall there was a major exercise around the Norwich area earlier this year - is it likely train staff from the wider area such as this stretch of line will have participated in it, so therefore showing the value such exercises may have?

Edit - I was also most surprised at the lack of general railway knowledge from all three TV networks - BBC/Sky/GB News - my son pretty much was able to ID the train using Open Train Times within a few minutes, and was able to work out from its lights and Google street maps what direction it had been travelling in. He did some digging to work out how busy it would have likely been. Nothing on any of the news networks seemed to look at that - but it did not stop them guessing where it was from and going to.

 

[Vexed]

I feel like the path showed UF earlier (and other trains are booked similarly). It feels like some very rapid action has taken place to get it platformed

9J61 in front came off the Up Main (not quite the fast yet, one track in the up direction at this point) into P2 at Huntingdon at 19:37 with 1Y90 about 7 berths* behind. I have no idea if ARS is in regular operation on this workstation, if so it would usually set the route staying on the fast lines around 5-6 berths out from the junction at the north end of Huntingdon

1Y90 arrived at Huntingdon about 19:44.

From this I would assume a REC (Railway Emergency Call) was not immediately made as otherwise 9J61 would have been unlikely to leave Huntingdon P2 on time. Or some very quick thinking by the signaller to immediately tell them to continue.

*7 berths out means 7 signals away from the junction.

Would the LNER train have video recordings in each carriage - I know the SWR trains near me have signs up saying CCTV is in use? This will be invaluable as evidence and will show the value such facilities will have on the railway. I am also speculating the ticket purchasing history of the perpetrators could be of interest into the investigation - what other journeys they made, when, who with?

Yes there will be on board CCTV. Assuming it's the same cameras as the Lumo 803s you can see the sort of quality it records on page 50 of the Spital Jn RAIB report - it looks reasonable to me.

 

[aaronspence]

Also looking at the fingertip search what I assume the police are undertaking - is that Azuma (?) train completely sealed in that there are no opening windows or doors, so nothing could have been thrown or discarded from the train until it got into Huntingdon? If that is the case, will they be able to move the train to a siding to allow it to be examined in greater detail, or will the train be left in situ for the search?

Good question, I was curious too when I saw the amount of emergency services on the track on the train side opposite the platform, I’d have expected it all to be focused on the platform side.

 

[Howardh]

Thoughts with those injured who are now being treated in hospital, hope those with the most serious injuries recover fully. Horrifying news.

What's the situation with the remainder of the passengers, are they still in and around the station or have the authorities either got them moving again to where they were going, or safely in local hotels (or even school halls/sports centres etc)?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thoughts with those injured who are now being treated in hospital, hope those with the most serious injuries recover fully. Horrifying news.

What's the situation with the remainder of the passengers, are they still in and around the station or have the authorities either got them moving again to where they were going, or safely in local hotels (or even school halls/sports centres etc)?

Photos on BBC News website showed some passengers being moved onto coaches for onward travel to London, which was reported to have taken place around 10pm.

 

[Howardh]

Photos on BBC News website showed some passengers being moved onto coaches for onward travel to London, which was reported to have taken place around 10pm.

Thanks for that.

 

[JD2168]

My thoughts are with the passengers & train crew on the affected service who may have seen or witnessed this appalling incident. Hopefully the injured passengers will recover quickly

Well done to the crew of the train & station staff getting it to stop safely at Huntingdon & alert the relevant authorities quickly

 

[concerned1]

9J61 in front came off the Up Main (not quite the fast yet, one track in the up direction at this point) into P2 at Huntingdon at 19:37 with 1Y90 about 7 berths* behind. I have no idea if ARS is in regular operation on this workstation, if so it would usually set the route staying on the fast lines around 5-6 berths out from the junction at the north end of Huntingdon

1Y90 arrived at Huntingdon about 19:44.

From this I would assume a REC (Railway Emergency Call) was not immediately made as otherwise 9J61 would have been unlikely to leave Huntingdon P2 on time. Or some very quick thinking by the signaller to immediately tell them to continue.

*7 berths out means 7 signals away from the junction.


Yes there will be on board CCTV. Assuming it's the same cameras as the Lumo 803s you can see the sort of quality it records on page 50 of the Spital Jn RAIB report - it looks reasonable to me.

So in an instant like this (perhaps some drivers can explain?) emergency button pressed > pax report knifemen on train > driver seeks to stop train at next suitable place where help can be given > just by chance 1Y90 was unusually on the UM (southbound platform side at Huntingdon) and 9J61 had moved off, allowing 1Y90 to make a platform side call at Huntingdon rather than the usual blast through on the UF?

This seems quite lucky in my view. I’ve travelled on this route a lot and it’s unusual for ‘straight through to London’ expresses to be pathed on the ‘slow lines’.

Had this serendipitous incident not occurred where would you have stopped the train if you were the driver?

 

[87electric]

So in an instant like this (perhaps some drivers can explain?) emergency button pressed > pax report knifemen on train > driver seeks to stop train at next suitable place where help can be given > just by chance 1Y90 was unusually on the UM (southbound platform side at Huntingdon) and 9J61 had moved off, allowing 1Y90 to make a platform side call at Huntingdon rather than the usual blast through on the UF?

This seems quite lucky in my view. I’ve travelled on this route a lot and it’s unusual for ‘straight through to London’ expresses to be pathed on the ‘slow lines’.

Had this serendipitous incident not occurred where would you have stopped the train if you were the driver?

St Neots would only have been 4 mins from Huntingdon for a platform stop.

 

[Surreytraveller]

So in an instant like this (perhaps some drivers can explain?) emergency button pressed > pax report knifemen on train > driver seeks to stop train at next suitable place where help can be given > just by chance 1Y90 was unusually on the UM (southbound platform side at Huntingdon) and 9J61 had moved off, allowing 1Y90 to make a platform side call at Huntingdon rather than the usual blast through on the UF?

This seems quite lucky in my view. I’ve travelled on this route a lot and it’s unusual for ‘straight through to London’ expresses to be pathed on the ‘slow lines’.

Had this serendipitous incident not occurred where would you have stopped the train if you were the driver?

REC call wouldn't be used. Urgent call maybe. Driver asks Signaller to put train in platform at Huntingdon.

 

[stadler]

Some general questions:

Would the LNER train have video recordings in each carriage - I know the SWR trains near me have signs up saying CCTV is in use? This will be invaluable as evidence and will show the value such facilities will have on the railway. I am also speculating the ticket purchasing history of the perpetrators could be of interest into the investigation - what other journeys they made, when, who with?

Also looking at the fingertip search what I assume the police are undertaking - is that Azuma (?) train completely sealed in that there are no opening windows or doors, so nothing could have been thrown or discarded from the train until it got into Huntingdon? If that is the case, will they be able to move the train to a siding to allow it to be examined in greater detail, or will the train be left in situ for the search?

Also I vaguely recall there was a major exercise around the Norwich area earlier this year - is it likely train staff from the wider area such as this stretch of line will have participated in it, so therefore showing the value such exercises may have?

Edit - I was also most surprised at the lack of general railway knowledge from all three TV networks - BBC/Sky/GB News - my son pretty much was able to ID the train using Open Train Times within a few minutes, and was able to work out from its lights and Google street maps what direction it had been travelling in. He did some digging to work out how busy it would have likely been. Nothing on any of the news networks seemed to look at that - but it did not stop them guessing where it was from and going to.

Yes the IETs do indeed have CCTV cameras in all of the carriages. There will definitely be CCTV available for them to view. All modern trains have this.

 

[Crossover]

So in an instant like this (perhaps some drivers can explain?) emergency button pressed > pax report knifemen on train > driver seeks to stop train at next suitable place where help can be given > just by chance 1Y90 was unusually on the UM (southbound platform side at Huntingdon) and 9J61 had moved off, allowing 1Y90 to make a platform side call at Huntingdon rather than the usual blast through on the UF?

This seems quite lucky in my view. I’ve travelled on this route a lot and it’s unusual for ‘straight through to London’ expresses to be pathed on the ‘slow lines’.

Had this serendipitous incident not occurred where would you have stopped the train if you were the driver?

From the direction the incident train was coming from, three tracks become four at Huntingdon with trains at the junction routed down the fast line or onto p2. After the stopper has gone in, the signaller (or automatic system) would be setting the route for the fast train to continue in the fast. I’m fairly sure here that the driver has contacted the box to make arrangements, using their route knowledge accordingly

 

[boiledbeans2]

[...]
2) The media do read the Forum so anything you speculate about could easily be reported more widely as fact. Equally people who were involved or know people who were involved could well read what you say. Keep that in mind.
[...]

Not saying you're wrong. But if the media did read this thread, they would have identified the train, it's origin and destination from post #1 of this thread!

 

[Railguy1]

Awful news. Thoughts with the victims and their families. Hope they make a full recovery.

 

[RichSwitch]

Thoughts with those involved, especially the crew and driver who must have been under a great deal of stress, but performed amazingly under the circumstances. Probably saved countless lives.

Sorry if it has been asked already:
1. Where is the train likely to be moved to (Doncaster?)?
2. What is likely to happen to it (deep clean and return to service, or interior furnishings stripped and replaced)?

Obviously as the train is only a few years old it’s not going to be written off.

Finally, I hope there will be counselling available for any staff member who needs it.

 

[Holly's 159]

By doing what exactly?

If we are talking about metal detectors at every station and beefed up security that's the one way. But it won't and shouldn't happen.

 

[TUC]

BBC News at this time of day is produced from Washington in the US. It's likely none of the people in charge have ever heard of Peterborough or Huntingdon.

To be honest, that’s no excuse. The BBC, especially in output broadcast in the UK, should show itself to be well informed about its own home country, regardless of where the output is being produced from.

 

[adc82140]

Not saying you're wrong. But if the media did read this thread, they would have identified the train, it's origin and destination from post #1 of this thread!

The BBC, ITV, Sky etc will have very specific rules sbout what constitutes a source. It looks like they all had to wait for a Police statement. The gutter press and self appointed twitter "journalists" will trawl the net and pick up what they can from where they can.

 

[Dan G]

I just want to say kudos to train manager, driver, and signaller. Clearly did great jobs in what must have been a horrendous situation.