Issue at Leighton Buzzard (14/12)

[Art1983]

No trains leaving Euston right now due to issue at LB

 

[headshot119]

Person hit by a train at Leighton Buzzard, all lines blocked. Ticket acceptance in please with VTEC for London - Edinburgh, and Chiltern on all reasonable routes.

Thoughts to the staff involved.

 

[dizzie]

I'm at Euston now - Virgin 1st class lounge is packed to the gills! They are doing ticket acceptance on all other operators' trains, but it's really no good for me, as getting to Preston will involve some fairly horrific transfers and delays anyway! The National Rail website seems to think services will be back to normal no later than 7pm. The last time I was in London, there was another jumper, leading to a massive delay. Am I just unlucky, or do there seem to be a unusual number of these incidents recently?

Anyway, I've got one of the 'comfy' chairs, I'm not planning on moving, and will wait this thing out! Fingers crossed they can do all the necessary procedures as fast as they've previously done (1.5 hours delay last time). BTW, does anyone know what the rules are, if you have an advance 1st ticket, and your train is delayed? My train only goes as far as Lancaster, and I'm slightly concerned that it'll be one of the trains cancelled, if this goes on for a while - because they'll surely want to keep the Glasgow destination services running, even if delayed. Can I get on another train?

 

[headshot119]

I'm at Euston now - Virgin 1st class lounge is packed to the gills! They are doing ticket acceptance on all other operators' trains, but it's really no good for me, as getting to Preston will involve some fairly horrific transfers and delays anyway! The National Rail website seems to think services will be back to normal no later than 7pm. The last time I was in London, there was another jumper, leading to a massive delay. Am I just unlucky, or do there seem to be a unusual number of these incidents recently?

Anyway, I've got one of the 'comfy' chairs, I'm not planning on moving, and will wait this thing out! Fingers crossed they can do all the necessary procedures as fast as they've previously done (1.5 hours delay last time). BTW, does anyone know what the rules are, if you have an advance 1st ticket, and your train is delayed? My train only goes as far as Lancaster, and I'm slightly concerned that it'll be one of the trains cancelled, if this goes on for a while - because they'll surely want to keep the Glasgow destination services running, even if delayed. Can I get on another train?

Advice for Preston at the moment is to take Chiltern via Birmingham, then pick up VT at New Street.

 

[dizzie]

Can anyone suggest any actual trains? The idea of going to B'ham is fine, except I'd be picking up Virgin WC and all of those trains are delayed/cancelled out of Euston anyway, so there's no guarantee I'd be able to get one.

 

[TheEdge]

The last time I was in London, there was another jumper, leading to a massive delay. Am I just unlucky, or do there seem to be a unusual number of these incidents recently?

Its the time of year sadly, its common to see a spike around Christmas, it'll drop off again around late January.

 

[TheEdge]

Can anyone suggest any actual trains? The idea of going to B'ham is fine, except I'd be picking up Virgin WC and all of those trains are delayed/cancelled out of Euston anyway, so there's no guarantee I'd be able to get one.

They'll be turning services that are north of the incident and using those to form cancelled services from Euston. In your position I'd just get on any train heading north and keep doing that each time a train terminates. Either you'll get to Preston or by the time you can't get another train the taxi ride to Preston will be shorter.

 

[Lrd]

There's been a helicopter hovering around Leighton Buzzard station for the past 20 mins or so, wonder if this is involved in the incident?

 

[gazthomas]

Job stopped at Stafford due to this incident

 

[GB]

Sadly was a young school aged child that was hit.

 

[dizzie]

That's so sad. I took the advice and legged it to KX. Am now on a train ready to depart to Leeds! I should be able to pick up a Preston train from there (hopefully!!).

 

[Lrd]

Sadly was a young school aged child that was hit.

Sad to hear this

 

[tsr]

The incident is now deemed non-suspicious. There are plans being made to attempt to reopen the Slow lines.

 

[tsr]

Traffic is now able to travel on the Slow lines, starting with clearing freight trapped in the immediate area. Departures from Euston are slowly going to resume in the next half hour.

 

[dizzie]

Does anyone know if I'm entitled to a refund, given my booked train was cancelled AND the alternative route I'm taking will mean I get to my destination over 2.5 hours late? On the website, all I can see are the Delay Repay options, which seems to apply to delayed trains, rather than cancelled ones.

 

[tsr]

Does anyone know if I'm entitled to a refund, given my booked train was cancelled AND the alternative route I'm taking will mean I get to my destination over 2.5 hours late? On the website, all I can see are the Delay Repay options, which seems to apply to delayed trains, rather than cancelled ones.

Delay Repay applies to delayed journeys, whether or not any given combination of trains was delayed, diverted or cancelled. Therefore your refund will be calculated on how late you arrived at the destination which you have ticket(s) to get to, against the original itinerary.

 

[amywok]

At Euston- mood is resigned and patient - other than 19.03 VWC BBS only Watfords and the Highland Sleeper are on the boards. I’m on 19.30 to Preston- did think about delaying till tomorrow but there’s reduced service due to strike action. Will wait to see if 19.30 shows up if not sack the job!

 

[oversteer]

Optimistically boarded a LNR service to BHM, in the hope that on the way they start stopping again at LBZ! What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Lrd]

Optimistically boarded a LNR service to BHM, in the hope that on the way they start stopping again at LBZ! What could possibly go wrong?

Looking at OpenTrainTimes maps, the incident train has moved off and fast lines have reopened so hopefully LBZ reopens soon.

 

[LeylandLen]

Looks like the 1930 WCML to Glasgow is on platform 6 ..

 

[Lrd]

Looking at OpenTrainTimes maps, the incident train has moved off and fast lines have reopened so hopefully LBZ reopens soon.

Scratch that, everything is going down the fast lines, slow lines shut

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone know if I'm entitled to a refund, given my booked train was cancelled AND the alternative route I'm taking will mean I get to my destination over 2.5 hours late? On the website, all I can see are the Delay Repay options, which seems to apply to delayed trains, rather than cancelled ones.

It's a full refund if you choose not to travel, or a Delay Repay claim if your journey is delayed.

 

[Lrd]

All lines open, trains now stopping at LBZ

 

[amywok]

Rtt says p14 so queuing optimistically!

 

[amywok]

RTT did the job and was in front of the dash for the train! Fingers crossed for arrival in pre for the Replacement bus to Lytham!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

West Coast meltdown - apart from this terrible incident - a Drax biomass train failed at Heaton Norris Junction - blocking both southbound lines ...

Ironically - attending a "railway" lunch at Stoke resulted in some quick rethinking and a detour via Derby / Leicester / Luton Airport Parkway to St ALbans - 4 hours - but kept moving.

 

[nickleics]

Not 100% sure, but I think this VTWC service from Euston to Glasgow Central may be the train involved:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80610/2017/12/14/advanced

Ultimately it was terminated at Milton Keynes Central 277L; I found what appeared to be the next movement for this set which left MKC later in the evening heading back to Wembley depot:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O52699/2017/12/14/advanced

 

[J006J]

Yes, it was the 15:30 EUS-GLC (390117). I was on 1A55 and seen the set at MKC and reading the tweets and messages of what happened with a visual of the front end really shakes you up. Thoughts with the family and friends of the young person and of course my colleagues.

 

[DarloRich]

If, as suggested, this incident involves a child it is even more tragic than normal. I feel nothing but sorrow for the family of the child, the driver and the staff on the train and on the ground who had to deal with this horrible and horribly sad incident. They are what matters.

Without wishing to criticse anyone: In these circumstances does it really matter which train was involved?

 

[oversteer]

Confirmed by BTP as a 14-year-old boy.

Nothing to add.