Major Disruption at King's Cross Following Fatal Incident
A person was pronounced dead after being struck by a train, causing extensive delays and cancellations in services.
A significant disruption to rail services in and out of London King's Cross was reported on Friday following the death of an individual who was struck by a train near Stevenage Railway Station.
The incident, which occurred just before 8:50 AM, led to numerous delays and cancellations for various train operators, including Lumo, LNER, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Grand Central.
According to a spokesperson from the British Transport Police, officers and paramedics responded to the scene, where the individual was pronounced deceased.
The police stated that the incident is not considered suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
As of 3:45 PM, National Rail reported that some routes had resumed service, while others remained affected.
Notably, the Great Northern route between London King's Cross and Letchworth Garden City, Cambridge, Ely, and King's Lynn was no longer impacted by the disruption.
However, trains from Grand Central, Hull Trains, LNER, and Lumo continued to experience significant delays.
Specific routes still facing disruption included:
- Grand Central between London King's Cross and Bradford Interchange/Sunderland
- Hull Trains between London King's Cross and Hull/Beverley
- LNER services to multiple northern cities including Edinburgh and Aberdeen
- Thameslink services facing delays between Brighton and Cambridge, and Horsham and Peterborough.
The situation was compounded by an issue with the signalling system at London Blackfriars, which further limited the capacity of Thameslink services across the network.
Passengers encountering delays are advised that they may be entitled to compensation, although eligibility will vary by train operator.
As services resumed, some trains from King's Cross, including those to Cambridge, York, and Edinburgh, reported being on schedule.
Nonetheless, passengers were still facing waits of up to 60 minutes on some lines.
National Rail indicated that the disruption could extend until the end of the day, with impacts expected to persist for affected routes.
In connection with the incident, Stevenage station has since reopened, enabling services to stop there again.
Travelers have been encouraged to document their travel experiences to facilitate any potential compensation claims.
In reaction to the atmosphere at King's Cross, one passenger noted a subdued environment during their travel.
They commented on the ripple effect caused by rerouted journeys and the overarching awareness of the tragic incident.