Lines reopened between London and Bedford / Cambridge / Peterborough: major disruption expected until 03:00 

Route(s) affected

Grand Central between London Kings Cross and Bradford Interchange / Sunderland

Great Northern between London Kings Cross and Stevenage / Cambridge / Kings Lynn, and also between Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City

Hull Trains between London Kings Cross and Hull

LNER between London Kings Cross and Leeds / York / Sunderland / Newcastle / Edinburgh / Aberdeen

Lumo between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh

Thameslink between Brighton and Cambridge / Bedford, between Horsham and Peterborough, between Three Bridges / East Grinstead / Sutton and Bedford, between Rainham / Orpington and Luton

Description

Lines have reopened between Stevenage and Royston / Biggleswade following the earlier incident where a person was hit by a train. The emergency services have safely completed their work but trains may still be cancelled, severely delayed or revised.

Additionally, there is still an ongoing points failure near Kentish Town, severely affecting Thameslink services from London towards Bedford.

Major disruption is expected until 03:00.

Advice for LNER customers:

You can use your tickets on the following services in both directions:

• Great Northern and Thameslink services between London Kings Cross and Peterborough (Please note, these services are also affected)

• Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Edinburgh

• East Midlands Railway services between London St Pancras International and Sheffield

• Northern services between Sheffield and Doncaster in both directions

Advice for Great Northern and Thameslink customers:

There were a number of incidents ongoing having a pronounced impact on most Thameslink and Great Northern routes.

At this time, it is advised not to travel.

If you do travel, your journey will be very delayed and likely include either alternative routes or means of travel.

Ongoing incidents

• A person being hit by a train in the area around Hitchin. The emergency services are in attendance. The emergency services attended, and all lines to and from Cambridge and Peterborough have now reopened with the last service running from Stevenage to Peterborough at 01.25.

• Points failure in the Kentish town area, which is having a significant impact to services heading north from London, towards Luton and Bedford. There is a very reduced overnight service between St Pancras and Bedford, in both directions.

Ticket acceptance

If it aids your journey you can use alternative carriers, as follows:

• London Underground services between London St Pancras International / London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale for connections with Greater Anglia and London Overground services

• Southeastern betwen Dartford and London

• Metrobus between Redhill and Horsham

• Mutually between Gatwick Express, Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink services on any reasonable route

• London Trams services between Beckenham Junction, East and West Croydon, Mitcham and Wimbledon

You will be able to use your Thameslink and Great Northern tickets dated today, 29 July, for tomorrow, 30 July.

Advice for Hull Trains customers:

You will be able to use your Hull Trains ticket dated today, 29 July, for tomorrow, 30 July.

Advice for Grand Central customers:

You can use your tickets on the following services:

• Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly in both directions

• TransPennine Express via any reasonable route until further notice.

• Northern via any reasonable route until further notice.

• LNER via any reasonable route until further notice. (Please note, these services are also affected)

• East Midlands Railway between London St Pancras International and Sheffield in both directions until further notice.

If you've been affected by what happened on the network today, there is always someone to talk to. You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 from any phone for a confidential chat.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.