Major disruption through Retford (16/04/2026) and residual effects over following days

[enginedin]

All East Coast services being held at York, nothing has moved since about 2000 and it's now 2145. Is anyone on one of the actual affected trains? There's a conspicuous absence of staff at York but apparently coaches have been ordered...

 

[Trainguy34]

Trespass between Newark Northgate and Retford according to National Rail.

 

[enginedin]

Trespass between Newark Northgate and Retford according to National Rail.

Yeh, that's what we're being told, with the occasional announcement of "because of a fault on a train"

 

[MontyP]

There is a huge queue of northbound trains. The 1803 off Kings Cross is the furthest north (just south of Retford station), then 2 more right behind it, 2 held in platforms at Newark, 1 at Grantham, 4 in consecutive blocks behind this and then more all the way back to Biggleswade! Sensibly the 2103 has been held at Kings X.

Also looks like Hull Trains 1H08 has departed the main line at Peterborough to head via Spalding and Lincoln.

 

[Trainguy34]

There is a huge queue of northbound trains. The 1803 off Kings Cross is the furthest north (just south of Retford station), then 2 more right behind it, 2 held in platforms at Newark, 1 at Grantham, 4 in consecutive blocks behind this and then more all the way back to Biggleswade! Sensibly the 2103 has been held at Kings X.

8 trains in-between Grantham and Peterborough, pretty much one behind the other at the Grantham end. Looks like 1A35, 1H08 are diverting via Spalding and Lincoln.

It does look like there's a 1Z99 heading northbound through Peterborough on the fasts though, so that might help.

 

[enginedin]

I'm hoping that since coaches have been ordered southbound, one of the trains currently sitting at York (of which there are at least 2) will be used to go back north. Are LNER that sensible...?

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It does look like there's a 1Z99 heading northbound through Peterborough on the fasts though, so that might help.

Apparently BTP are on site with a trespasser, not sure what help a 1Z99 will be!

 

[Twingo37175]

There are also a couple of diverts down the Lincoln line. 2 hull trains plus the 2010 off Leeds. I assume some of the South bound LNER services have London crew who don't sign the joint line

 

[MontyP]

I'm hoping that since coaches have been ordered southbound, one of the trains currently sitting at York (of which there are at least 2) will be used to go back north. Are LNER that sensible...?

In my experience LNER generally handle major disruption like this slightly better than their Avanti counterparts on the other side of the country! Perhaps because Edinburgh is their biggest revenue generator? Unlike Glasgow which seems like an inconvenience for Avanti at times of disruption

 

[Twingo37175]

It does look like there's a 1Z99 heading northbound through Peterborough on the fasts though, so that might help.

Think this is from an earlier failure of 1D25 (1739 off London) at Stevenage with brake issues

 

[Trainguy34]

I'm hoping that since coaches have been ordered southbound, one of the trains currently sitting at York (of which there are at least 2) will be used to go back north. Are LNER that sensible...?

The one in platform 6 can't without a reversal (It's already reversed after getting about halfway to Doncaster and returning to York), the one on platform 11 could though.

Edit: Just saw on Traksy that they've started turning trains around at the South end, 1D27 in Newark P3 looks to now be empty and preparing to head south, while 1S28 (One of the 3 trains queuing to enter Retford) has turned around at Tuxford.

 

[Kite159]

There are also a couple of diverts down the Lincoln line. 2 hull trains plus the 2010 off Leeds. I assume some of the South bound LNER services have London crew who don't sign the joint line

Or are run with 801s, which would be very slow if they were authorised to run on the backup engine between Doncaster & Peterborough via Lincoln

 

[MontyP]

The one in platform 6 can't without a reversal (It's already reversed after getting about halfway to Doncaster and returning to York), the one on platform 11 could though.

Edit: Just saw on Traksy that they've started turning trains around at the South end, 1D27 in Newark P3 looks to now be empty and preparing to head south, while 1S28 (One of the 3 trains queuing to enter Retford) has turned around at Tuxford.

1D27 looks to have become 5D27, presumably cancelled? What happens to the passengers, are they now on the platform at Newark?

 

[yorkshirerail]

1D27 looks to have become 5D27, presumably cancelled? What happens to the passengers, are they now on the platform at Newark?

Presumably so. Looks like moving it to allow 1N86 which is a bi mode through to go via Lincoln

 

[Kite159]

Not a good day for it to happen considering LNER are carrying more passengers for Scotland than usual due to the WCML being closed with engineering works (surprisingly passengers prefer a direct train than having to change multiple times/replacement buses)

 

[MontyP]

Somewhat surprised to see that the Cally Sleeper to Inverness is heading into the queue on the ECML, I wondered whether it might have been held at Wembley until the block was cleared, in case it needed to be cancelled

 

[Trainguy34]

Looks like they've managed to gridlock Peterborough until something moves north, they've put a block on the slows north of Hitchin because of it! Also appears they've tried routing a Northern service into the occupied platform 2 at Retford, even though they could've ran it into the Low level and potentially done a reversal nearby if feasible(?)

Edit: Just as I posted this, the standoff at Peterborough appears to have cleared, typical

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Looks like they've managed to gridlock Peterborough until something moves north, they've put a block on the slows north of Hitchin because of it!

Just had a look on RTT, I think it might be to do with the failed train at Stevenage earlier (5D25?), not the Peterborough problems.

 

[43094]

Two seperate issues.

Ongoing trespass issue at Retford. No ETA for movement as of now, lots of trains trapped both at, and not at, stations.

Related: 1D29 needs to move back to Peterborough (from near Stoke), ill passengers on board and no way of getting them to Grantham.

Seperate: 5D25 loco issue (ex 1D25 which terminated Stevenage), now near Arlesey, will remain there overnight.

 

[55002]

Someone on Twitter has said there are 2 separate medical incidents on one of the trains. Obviously I can’t confirm if that’s correct. Edit confirmed by 43094 above

 

[KGX]

In my experience LNER generally handle major disruption like this slightly better than their Avanti counterparts on the other side of the country! Perhaps because Edinburgh is their biggest revenue generator? Unlike Glasgow which seems like an inconvenience for Avanti at times of disruption

LNER are not handling this at all.

 

[55002]

LNER are not handling this at all.

If it’s a genuine trespasser, and we don’t know the circumstance, it will be down to the police to remove the individual. There’s not a lot LNER can do unfortunately.

 

[saismee]

Apparently BTP are on site with a trespasser, not sure what help a 1Z99 will be!

Police Class 37?

 

[enginedin]

If it’s a genuine trespasser, and we don’t know the circumstance, it will be down to the police to remove the individual. There’s not a lot LNER can do unfortunately.

Apparently (according to LNER staff) there are police negotiators on site

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Apr 2026 ==

LNER are not handling this at all.

Southbound coaches were being organised for York, I agree it's probably pretty difficult for them to do a huge amount. They didn't manage to repurpose one of the stuck southbound trains tho. Everyone now on the 2314 TPE to Newcastle, and let's see what happens there....

 

[Jonny]

How difficult is it to remove a trespasser? What has happened that a negotiator is needed?

 

[Banham7]

1B92 was terminated at Peterborough, this is a service which is usually Doncaster crew, so interesting the option to use the Joint Line direct to Lincoln was not taken up. Presumably the passengers were put on 2K34 which left Peterborough around 10 minutes late.

2T92 23:00 Lincoln to Nottingham is abandoning the Newark Northgate call because of platform availability.

Seems the incident is in the Eaton Lane Foot Crossing area?

 

[enginedin]

How difficult is it to remove a trespasser? What has happened that a negotiator is needed?

Probably best not to speculate

 

[KGX]

How difficult is it to remove a trespasser? What has happened that a negotiator is needed?

Doesn’t make sense. Given the halt, there is no threat from the rail. Thousands of people delayed or stranded.

 

[55002]

Doesn’t make sense. Given the halt, there is no threat from the rail. Thousands of people delayed or stranded.

Someone has said on social media that they are up a gantry…again I have no proof that is the situation..

 

[D1537]

1B92 was terminated at Peterborough, this is a service which is usually Doncaster crew, so interesting the option to use the Joint Line direct to Lincoln was not taken up. Presumably the passengers were put on 2K34 which left Peterborough around 10 minutes late.

The "1D29" currently near Lincoln is actually the commandeered unit from 1B92.

The original 1D29 reversed back to Peterborough (as mentioned above) and is still there as 5D29, it couldn't have gone via Lincoln anyway as it's an 801.

 

[304033]

1Z99 is out again, routed onto slow at Tallington and round the 3 that are stuck at Stoke Jnc.
Either somethings broken or its going to be used to drag something another way with no wires.

 

[55002]

1Z99 is out again, routed onto slow at Tallington and round the 3 that are stuck at Stoke Jnc.
Either somethings broken or its going to be used to drag something another way with no wires.

Did the Newark thunderbird go down to Arlesey for 1D25, if it did it could be that returning home