The Telegraph reporting that some SouthEastern trains cancelled due to bed bugs

[ox_chap]

Headline in today's paper (2nd October 2026):

"Bedbugs infest commuter trains​

Services cancelled and carriages sealed up as drivers refuse to get in cabs after insect sightings"

Sounds pretty grim.....

[Edit - bit more information] The link is here, but it might hit a paywall. However, other newspapers, including online outlets, are also picking up the story.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/bedbug-outbreak-hits-commuter-train-carriages-south-eastern/

 

[LowLevel]

It's always happened. People bring their stuff and pets into trains and things like fleas come with them. Standard practice is to shut the doors and windows, drop some fumigation, leave them in a siding for a while then air them out. Don't know why it would be a surprise.

 

[ScotGG]

Not a great surprise and these things do happen. Terrible PR though.

 

[Russel]

https://www.london-now.co.uk/news/26604154.southeastern-trains-cancelled-drivers-walk-bedbugs/

Just found the article and if I've read it properly, they were contained to two cabs.

 

[Recessio]

Seems the same as legionella in toilet water supplies - it happens, is dealt with, and is hardly newsworthy.

 

[a_c_skinner]

The drivers are right. Horrid things to get rid of if you take them home. The TOC should have been clearer that they support their drivers. Legionella isn't one of those things, it is down to good management of hot water almost completely.

 

[Mattplans]

There are internal logs in the article so I think it’s pretty clear that at least one driver or member of operational staff deemed it newsworthy enough to leak to the media. Pretty clear that the response of the Toc was not satisfactory to that person

So probably not part of the everyday ordinary

 

[speedy1]

Eek bedbugs are no joke. Financially, mental toll etc

"The news comes after the headquarters of The Guardian newspaper ... had a bedbug infestation, ..." Lol the absolute shade.

 

[XFeed]

Not a great surprise and these things do happen. Terrible PR though.

Many years ago fleas were discovered on a 175, can't remember which unit, a specialist company was called in to fumigate the unit and it suffered no reoccurrence.

 

[ScotGG]

https://www.london-now.co.uk/news/26604154.southeastern-trains-cancelled-drivers-walk-bedbugs/

Just found the article and if I've read it properly, they were contained to two cabs.

That's an abysmal source for news.

 

[Coleridge]

This is a "gifted" link to the story in the Telegraph that doesn't require a subscription.

Trains cancelled after bedbug infestation

The outbreak affects West Marina train care depot near Hastings, East Sussex, which serves routes between London and Kent. Sightings have also been reported on Southeastern’s High Speed 1 line services, raising fears the bugs are spreading.

Drivers have found bedbugs in their cabs and crawling on their bags. According to internal messages seen by The Telegraph, drivers have refused to board affected trains, and accused their bosses of failing to take the issue seriously.

At least three services were cancelled on Friday, with more having been cancelled since the first sighting on Sept 22.

 

[cats_five]

Many years ago fleas were discovered on a 175, can't remember which unit, a specialist company was called in to fumigate the unit and it suffered no reoccurrence.

Fumigation doesn't work well in the home as there are far too many nooks and crannies that the larvae crawl into (they are photophobic) that the stuff doesn't reach. But trains don't have skirting boards, sofas and so on.

 

[Snow1964]

It's always happened. People bring their stuff and pets into trains and things like fleas come with them. Standard practice is to shut the doors and windows, drop some fumigation, leave them in a siding for a while then air them out. Don't know why it would be a surprise.

The article says

Drivers have found bedbugs in their cabs and crawling on their bags

If they are in cabs, and doesn't say they were also in the passenger saloons, and passengers do not go into cabs. You have to wonder if there is, how shall I put this politely without offending, a rather less than clean member of staff who brought them in.

 

[GordonT]

Not a great surprise and these things do happen. Terrible PR though.

Would be far worse PR if it was Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[Cach17]

For their part, I noticed SE put out this statement on Bluesky last night:

You might be concerned by media reports about bedbugs found on two Southeastern trains based at the West Marina Depot near Hastings. These isolated cases were only found in the driver cabs, not in the passenger areas. When we get reports like these we take trains out of service and treat them if needed. Then they return to service when given the all clear. Bedbugs have not been found in any passenger areas, and we clean all our trains and stations thoroughly so you can travel with safety and confidence.

(attached image is of the same text immediately above)

 

[cats_five]

The article says

If they are in cabs, and doesn't say they were also in the passenger saloons, and passengers do not go into cabs. You have to wonder if there is, how shall I put this politely without offending, a rather less than clean member of staff who brought them in.

You don't have to be unclean to get bedbugs. You just need to visit somewhere that has them (e.g. be unlucky), and they hitch a lift. Unfortunately they can get through gaps less than 1mm wide.

Temperatures over 48C kill them (so wash bedding at 60C) and so apparently will freezing for 2-4 weeks. There are sprays as well, not sure how effective they are. It might depend how well they are deployed.

 

[Recessio]

This is a "gifted" link to the story in the Telegraph that doesn't require a subscription.

Trains cancelled after bedbug infestation

Thanks for posting. I do agree then that if bosses aren't taking it seriously, then it is both not routine and it is newsworthy, unlike what I said previously. I assumed this was just tabloids playing up commonplace detection due to recent other news stories about bed bugs in the media, but it's very disheartening to hear from drivers that Southeastern isn't taking this seriously. Especially given how easily it could spread and take an entire fleet out of service, you'd think the management would care more?

 

[matchmaker]

Would be far worse PR if it was Caledonian Express.

If it was what?

 

[XFeed]

Fumigation doesn't work well in the home as there are far too many nooks and crannies that the larvae crawl into (they are photophobic) that the stuff doesn't reach. But trains don't have skirting boards, sofas and so on.

The process the specialist company carried out certainly worked as there was no reoccurrence, however they did it it worked

 

[GordonT]

If it was what?

If it was the subject operator.

 

[Trainguy34]

If it was what?

I'm presuming he meant Caledonian Sleeper...

 

[GordonT]

I'm presuming he meant Caledonian Sleeper...

Whoops! Sorry - now edited.

 

[Russel]

That's an abysmal source for news.

Probably is, but OP hadn't actually posted the Telegraph link at the time and it was the first article I come across...

Either way, they both say pretty much the same thing.