Major rail disruption after person hit by train near Bedford

Rail services between Bedford and London St Pancras International remain severely disrupted after a person was struck by a train earlier today.

Emergency services were called to the line, prompting the closure of all tracks while the incident was dealt with. Although some lines have since reopened, only two of the four tracks are currently available, limiting capacity through the area and leading to ongoing delays and cancellations. Passengers are being warned to expect disruption until around 20:00.

Train services are now able to run in both directions, but operators have confirmed that reduced availability of tracks may result in fewer trains to help manage congestion. Delays of up to an hour and alterations to scheduled services are still expected.

East Midlands Railway has confirmed that its Connect services between Corby and London St Pancras International will remain suspended for the rest of the day. Intercity services may make additional stops at Bedford and Wellingborough, though this is yet to be fully confirmed and further updates are expected.

Rail staff currently anticipate the line will be fully reopened within the next two hours. Once that happens, the immediate focus will be on restoring services to their advertised schedules, with operators aiming for the normal timetable to resume by 20:00 on affected routes.

Ticket acceptance has been arranged by East Midlands Trains with several other operators, though passengers are advised to check at their departure station before boarding as these arrangements can be withdrawn at short notice. Thameslink has warned customers travelling to or from Bedford that alternative routes are likely to be required, adding an extra 20 to 30 minutes to journey times.

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