Major Incident at Huntingdon (01/11/2025)

[Steddenm]

BBC News reporting that all ten victims were taken to Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge. Some by air ambulance.

Government and BTP to make a statement later this morning.

Although a terrorism protocol was activated, this has been stood down and is now a major incident declared.

Lines will remain closed until at least the end of the day.

Full details: BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cm2zvjx1z14t (note this page is a BBC Live Page and may change as the story continues to break).

 

[800001]

lner are replying to people that services between Leeds and London are scheduled to run, but to continue checking there live update pages.

The following is taken from the LNER service update page which states that likes are reopen but Huntingdon station remains closed:-

Great Northern / Thameslink customer advice: ​

Lines have reopened between Hitchin and Peterborough and trains which run between London Kings Cross and Peterborough will be able to run.

However, Huntingdon station remains closed, if you wish to travel from Huntingdon, you will need to take a rail replacement bus to either St Neots or Peterborough and from there you can take a train service towards your destination. All buses are advertised on journey planners.

If you are travelling to Huntingdon from the direction of London / Hitchin, please alight the train at St Neots where replacement buses are running. There are also rail replacement buses running from Peterborough to Huntingdon.

Additionally, no trains in the direction of Peterborough will be able to call at Arlesey until at least 09:00.

• If you wish to travel to Arlesey from the direction of London / Hitchin, please alight at Biggleswade and take a return service to complete your journey
• If you wish to travel from Arlesey towards Peterborough, please instead travel south to Hitchin and change for a return service towards Peterborough

Travel Alerts for your Train Journey | LNER

Stay updated with the latest LNER train information and sign up for travel alerts here.

www.lner.co.uk

 

[sh24]

1P11 0745 Thameslink from Peterborough to KX looks to be on its way, so the fast lines must now be open.

 

[D365]

What’s the issue with Arlesey northbound specifically? Noting that it (like Huntingdon and Sandy) doesn’t have any fast line platforms.

 

[Intercity_225]

What’s the issue with Arlesey northbound specifically? Noting that it (like Huntingdon and Sandy) doesn’t have any fast line platforms.

There's a freight blocking Biggleswade slow line platform until 9am, and there isn't any points between Arlesey and Biggleswade in that direction and line.

Realtime Trains | 4Z97 0900 Biggleswade to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf | 02/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 4Z97 0900 departure from Biggleswade to Peterborough North Yd Gbrf on 02/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[LCC106]

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

REC call would be used in my opinion, as it is for threat to life.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Terrible news to wake up to. My thoughts are with the passengers and staff involved, especially those still in hospital with life-threatening injuries. Hopefully they make a full recovery and everyone involved is able to get the support needed after such a traumatic incident.

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.

Standards which are much appreciated, especially in these times when AI-generated content and other false information can spread through social media quicker than the sniffles during fresher's week.

 

[jon0844]

Terrible news to wake up to. My thoughts are with the passengers and staff involved, especially those still in hospital with life-threatening injuries. Hopefully they make a full recovery and everyone involved is able to get the support needed after such a traumatic incident.


Standards which are much appreciated, especially in these times when AI-generated content and other false information can spread through social media quicker than the sniffles during fresher's week.

X is full of people blaming Labour and the London Mayor (well the train goes to London..) and even calling on Trump to impose sanctions on us etc.

The narrative is set whatever the reality actually is.

 

[Iskra]

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

Agreed. And the police for a quick response. My thoughts are with the victims and those who had to witness it.

LNER seem to be running their normal services from Leeds via the ECML today. Nothing being said about diversions or delays at Leeds this morning- further credit is needed for all involved in getting the operation back to normal so efficiently.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Would have been best if the BTP had referred to the service the incident occurred on in their initial statement. Would have helped their call handlers triage any calls.

LNER, and Network Rail, must have known which train was involved, but LNER confirmed initially only that it was "one of our trains".
Post #8 on this thread correctly identified the train as 1Y90 but said it was an IC225 service, while the first X picture clearly shows an Azuma at Huntingdon.
It was four hours before the police identified the actual train involved.

Getting these facts out quickly would have reduced the anxiety of anybody travelling on the ECML last night, and their families.

 

[Iskra]

LNER, and Network Rail, must have known which train was involved, but LNER confirmed initially only that it was "one of our trains".
Post #8 on this thread correctly identified the train as 1Y90 but said it was an IC225 service, while the first X picture clearly shows an Azuma at Huntingdon.
It was four hours before the police identified the actual train involved.

Getting these facts out quickly would have reduced the anxiety of anybody travelling on the ECML last night, and their families.

Or increased it for anyone who knew anyone on that particular train.

 

[EveningStar]

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.

That was my first thought as well. Credit to the staff involved who kept a cool head in a confusing and rapidly developing situation.

 

[flitwickbeds]

It was four hours before the police identified the actual train involved.

No. No no no no no.

It was four hours before the Police *confirmed to the media* the actual train involved.

I think they had better things to be getting on with before that point, don't you? Like, you know, *identifying* the incident train, making arrests, and starting investigations?

 

[AlterEgo]

Or increased it for anyone who knew anyone on that particular train.

If a flight goes down it is immediately known and confirmed which one it is. The incident train ought to have been clarified by the media very quickly. Anons on the Internet can look at Traksy or RTT and give the correct answer, properly sourced, but the media and their standards mean they took the word of a local MP and waited a couple of hours for BTP to catch up with the agenda. Understandably the police are very busy and that's no criticism of them but what is the media actually for if it doesn't report accurate facts more than people on some forum?

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

No. No no no no no.

It was four hours before the Police *confirmed to the media* the actual train involved.

I think they had better things to be getting on with before that point, don't you? Like, you know, *identifying* the incident train, making arrests, and starting investigations?

The police would bave known immediately what the incident train was. It is just their public comms would bave been totally overworked. No criticism of them, it's just how it is.

 

[MarkWi72]

Apologies if mentioned, but on Real Time & Traksy it seems that 1Y90 was on time at Connington South junction , presumably the attack happened after it passed there.

Thoughts with everyone involved, it would have obviously been traumatic to have been on that train. Kudos to first responders too.

 

[AlterEgo]

Apologies if mentioned, but on Real Time & Traksy it seems that 1Y90 was on time at Connington South junction , presumably the attack happened after it passed there.

Thoughts with everyone involved, it would have obviously been traumatic to have been on that train. Kudos to first responders too.

We don't know this. An eyewitness said the attack lasted 10-15 minutes which is of course unreliable but the train wouldn't necessarily slow down during the attack.

 

[TUC]

Or increased it for anyone who knew anyone on that particular train.

It would but, whilst recognising that, better to have a smaller number of people anxious and calling for information on one particular train than have a much larger number anxious and calling about a whole range of trains.

 

[MarkWi72]

We don't know this. An eyewitness said the attack lasted 10-15 minutes which is of course unreliable but the train wouldn't necessarily slow down during the attack.

True of course. Reports say once it was away from Peterborough. It is 10 minutes from Peterborough to Huntingdon?

 

[Parallel]

Hoping the victims involved in this tragic incident make a speedy recovery.

 

[rd749249]

REC call would be used in my opinion, as it is for threat to life.

Given the circumstances, I don’t think you’d be criticised by doing either. But on a cold read and with hindsight, I would probably be pressing the yellow button in order to not stop my train, get to a station and allow the signaller to bring trains to a co-ordinated stop and gather emergency services at an agreed location.

 

[MarkWi72]

BBC News now talking about the service (1Y90) now. Also kudos to the signallers and train crew.

 

[Banham7]

LNER Customers booked to travel today can now defer their travel up to and including the 7th November.

⚠️ #LNERUpdate Customers booked to travel today, 02 November, can defer their travel up to and including the 07 November. Please check our website for the latest advice and updates.

https://x.com/lner/status/1984907858761134287

 

[Royston Vasey]

We don't know this. An eyewitness said the attack lasted 10-15 minutes which is of course unreliable but the train wouldn't necessarily slow down during the attack.

It reached and stopped at Huntingdon (unscheduled) in 14 minutes, which is the time Thameslink services are timed to cover the distance and only three minutes more than 1Y90 was given to cover it by the WTT (with no pathing/recovery time).

If it started at or after Peterborough, in the same 14 minutes the incident has begun, the emergency buttons pressed, the driver has been alerted, he/she has proceeded at close to full speed while getting the train signalled into P2 (the preceding services were routed on the Up Fast so one assumes this was planned to also) and stopped.

This seems, on the face of it, like an extremely effective and I dare say heroic emergency response to something almost unprecedented.

 

[Retorus]

It reached and stopped at Huntingdon (unscheduled) in 14 minutes, which is the time Thameslink services are timed to cover the distance and only three minutes more than 1Y90 was given to cover it by the WTT (with no pathing/recovery time).

If it started at or after Peterborough, in the same 14 minutes the incident has begun, the emergency buttons pressed, the driver has been alerted, he/she has proceeded at close to full speed while getting the train signalled into P2 (the preceding services were routed on the Up Fast so one assumes this was planned to also) and stopped.

This seems, on the face of it, like an extremely effective and I dare say heroic emergency response to something almost unprecedented.

Agreed. Very well done to the people involved.

 

[AlterEgo]

It reached and stopped at Huntingdon (unscheduled) in 14 minutes, which is the time Thameslink services are timed to cover the distance and only three minutes more than 1Y90 was given to cover it by the WTT (with no pathing/recovery time).

If it started at or after Peterborough, in the same 14 minutes the incident has begun, the emergency buttons pressed, the driver has been alerted, he/she has proceeded at close to full speed while getting the train signalled into P2 (the preceding services were routed on the Up Fast so one assumes this was planned to also) and stopped.

This seems, on the face of it, like an extremely effective and I dare say heroic emergency response to something almost unprecedented.

It is indeed noticeable the train didn't lose much time. We will see what any review of the incident brings but on the face of it it would seem like the most rapid and appropriate response by the staff was taken.

 

[Magdalia]

The area is very lucky to have 2 air ambulances based in the county, its a shame other areas can't get similar in the air (e.g Stoke air ambulance has been trying to get cover for North staffs) where resources are spread thinner.

Oh we are, and they are very well supported by lt local community and they are very very greatful as we do not have the road infrastructure in EA, so an Air Ambulance is often the safest option

East Anglia one covers Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire (another is based in Norwich for Norfolk & Suffolk) while the other is a separate charity for Essex/Herts.

Yes, EAAA are based at Cambridge and Norwich Airports. And as you pointed out earlier the Magpas air ambulance is now based at Alconbury (previously Wyton).

The MAGPAS and EAAA helicopters are the main users of the Addenbrookes helipad. Both are operated by charities, but they are separate because they have very different histories.

MAGPAS started as the Mid Anglia General Practitioner Advisory Service in 1971. For most of its life MAGPAS was a road based service, and it became well established responding to road traffic accidents when the M11 and what is now the A14 were built later in the 1970s. Growing up in Cambridge in the 1970s, MAGPAS was regarded locally as something unusual and special, if not unique.

EAAA is the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and both of their helicopters come to Addenbrookes. EAAA is a newer charity, but has been flying longer than MAGPAS. It operates in a similar way to other regional air ambulance charities.

Much of the air ambulance traffic to Addenbrookes is road traffic accidents, there were very few flights during the Covid lockdowns.

The Addenbrookes helipad requires a transfer to a road ambulance to get to Accident and Emergency, and this takes time. From Huntingdon to Addenbrookes is a short journey mostly on the A14 and M11: I'd expect road to be quicker than air except if there is traffic congestion on the A14 or M11. My hunch is that the helicopters at Huntingdon were there in case the number of passengers needing treatment exceeded capacity at Addenbrookes, requiring some patients to go by air to hospitals further away.

 

[D365]

The Addenbrookes helipad requires a transfer to a road ambulance to get to Accident and Emergency, and this takes time. From Huntingdon to Addenbrookes is a short journey mostly on the A14 and M11: I'd expect road to be quicker than air except if there is traffic congestion on the A14 or M11. My hunch is that the helicopters at Huntingdon were there in case the number of passengers needing treatment exceeded capacity at Addenbrookes, requiring some patients to go by air to hospitals further away.

With the A14 trunk road now diverted via the Offords, this was exactly my thoughts. The A1307 provides fast access from Huntingdon station to all corners of Cambridge via Swavesey.

 

[scotraildriver]

REC call would be used in my opinion, as it is for threat to life.

The problem is that will immediately stop any trains which may be ahead, potentially causing a significant delay in you getting where you want to be. It's not always the best option.

 

[transportphoto]

My hunch is that the helicopters at Huntingdon were there in case the number of passengers needing treatment exceeded capacity at Addenbrookes, requiring some patients to go by air to hospitals further away

Or simply to bring the clinicians skill set (Doctor, Critical Care Paramedic) to scene without consideration to onward travel. To fly or “ground escort” each patient is not a decision typically made before air ambulance deployment.

 

[GordonT]

If a flight goes down it is immediately known and confirmed which one it is. The incident train ought to have been clarified by the media very quickly.

A Saturday evening when the normal LNER pattern of operations was dislocated by the York blockade, the train being required to stop urgently at an out of course stop and media resources are very sparse is surely understandably an environment unlikely to produce quick media clarification of the train and its schedule.