Following an incident on Friday 19 June where the emergency services responded to an incident involving a collision between two East Midlands Railway trains in the Bedford area, the railway is expected to remain closed between Luton and Bedford until at least the end of the day on Friday 26 June.
A complex recovery operation has begun to remove the damaged trains from the railway before Network Rail engineers assess any damage and complete necessary repairs.
East Midlands Railway and Thameslink are advising that you only travel on this route if it is essential, and to work from home where possible.
Travelling between Monday 22 and Friday 26 June?
Advice for East Midlands Railway customers:
East Midlands Railway will operate 1 train per hour on the following routes:
- Sheffield - Bedford
- Nottingham - Bedford
- Kettering - Corby
There will be no East Midlands Railway train service south of Bedford.
Rail replacement buses will be provided in each direction as follows (these will be departing on the hour):
- 1 bus per hour running direct between Luton and Kettering
- 1 bus per hour running between Luton Airport Parkway and Kettering, calling at Luton, Bedford and Wellingborough
East Midlands Railway and Thameslink customers may use the rail replacement bus service that best supports their journey. For Thameslink rail replacement bus information please see details further down this page.
How do I get where I need to be?
Your ticket will be accepted for travel on the following alternative routes and train operators until the line reopens. This is at no extra cost to yourself and also includes tickets dated for travel on Friday June 19.
Sheffield
You may travel to Doncaster from London Kings Cross with LNER, where you should change for a train to Sheffield with CrossCountry, TransPennine Express or Northern. It is likely to take between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete this journey. LNER recommend booking a seat reservation, which can be done up to 5 minutes before the train departs via the LNER website. Visit the East Midlands Railway website for lots of useful information about what to expect when travelling from London Kings Cross.
Derby / Chesterfield
You may travel to Birmingham New Street from London Euston with London Northwestern Railway or Avanti West Coast, where you should change for a train to Derby or Chesterfield with CrossCountry. It is likely to take between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete this journey. Visit the East Midlands Railway website for lots of useful information about what to expect when travelling from London Euston.
Nottingham
You may travel to Grantham from London Kings Cross with LNER, where you should change for a train to Nottingham with East Midlands Railway (EMR). It is likely to take between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete this journey. LNER recommend booking a seat reservation, which can be done up to 5 minutes before the train departs via the LNER website. Visit the East Midlands Railway website for lots of useful information about what to expect when travelling from London Kings Cross.
Leicester
You may travel to Nuneaton from London Euston with Avanti West Coast or London Northwestern Railway, where you should change for a train to Leicester with CrossCountry. It is likely to take around 2 hours to complete this journey. Visit the East Midlands Railway website for lots of useful information about what to expect when travelling from London Euston.
All of these alternative route options are available in the opposite direction too. A reminder that you don’t need to worry about your ticket, other train operators know about the disruption to your journey and your ticket can be used at no extra cost on their trains.
East Midlands Railway promise that if you need to start your outward journey from a different operator's station due to this disruption, then you will also be able to travel back to that station when you return, regardless of if the disruption has ended or your ticket type. Rail industry colleagues will welcome you on board with your original ticket.
Refund and reimbursement details
If you were unable to complete your journey by rail on Friday 19 June and were told to claim money back for a taxi from East Midlands Railway, please send across your taxi receipt and your ticket details to the East Midlands Railway customer relations team.
If you are unable or do not wish to complete your journey, you may claim a refund on your ticket. You can check your journey on East Midlands Railway's Service Updates page
Advice for Thameslink customers:
From today, Monday 22 June until at least Friday 26 June, Thameslink services will not run between Luton and Bedford.
If your journey is on the Midland Main Line between Luton and Bedford, please only travel if your journey is essential. If you do need to travel, please check before you set off and allow at least 60 minutes additional time.
Disruption is expected throughout this period, and services that are able to run as far as Luton (from London) will be reduced.
The following stations will have no Thameslink service:
- Leagrave
- Harlington
- Flitwick
- Bedford
If you are travelling to or from any of these stations, you will need to use an alternative route or the limited rail replacement bus service where available.
East Midlands Railway customers can travel with Thameslink and Great Northern services during this time.
Journey planners are showing the amended service for today, Monday 22 June. Journey planners will be updated for Tuesday 23 June and for the rest of the week as soon as possible.
What does this mean for my journey?
A reduced Thameslink service will run, with the following changes:
- Three Bridges to Bedford services will not run
- Please use alternative Thameslink services where available, or allow extra time to change trains. You can also use Southern services towards London Victoria
- East Grinstead to Bedford peak-time services will not run
- Please use Southern services to and from London Victoria instead. You can change at East Croydon for a limited Thameslink service to Luton
- Brighton to Bedford services will run to and from Luton only
- If you are travelling beyond Luton, you will need to use the limited rail replacement bus service
- Rainham to Luton services will run between Rainham and Dartford only
- Please use alternative Southeastern services from Dartford to London. You can also use the Elizabeth line if you're travelling to or from Abbey Wood
All other Thameslink services are planned to run normally. Earlswood and Salfords will be served by different Thameslink services than usual.
Rail replacement buses between Luton and Bedford
A very limited rail replacement bus service will run between Luton and Bedford. This is as follows:
- A stopping bus service between Luton and Bedford, calling at Leagrave, Harlington and Flitwick
- A semi-fast bus service between Luton Airport Parkway and Bedford, calling at Luton only
Space on board these buses will be extremely limited. At busier times, you may not be able to board the first bus that arrives. Please note that buses will pick up and drop off at the Luton DART.
A limited bus service, operated by EMR will operate between Kettering and Luton Airport Parkway, calling at Wellingborough, Bedford and Luton.
Thameslink and East Midlands Railway customers may use the rail replacement bus service that best supports their journey.
Other ways to travel
If you are travelling between Gatwick and London, you can use alternative Southern services. You can also use London Underground services around central London, including the Elizabeth line.
Your ticket is also valid with London Northwestern Railway between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central.
Travelling on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June?
Please be aware that there is planned engineering work taking place between London St Pancras and Bedford on the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June. Regardless of the progress of the recovery and subsequent repair work, all lines between these stations will be closed on these dates.
You can read more information on the engineering works via the Bedford and London St Pancras International engineering page. Trains that usually start and terminate at London St Pancras International will start and terminate at Bedford instead.
Additional information:
East Midlands Railway have established a dedicated call line for customers and their families who were directly involved in the incident. The line is staffed by trained colleagues who will be able to help with queries including the return of personal possessions and refer customers and families to the British Red Cross should further support be helpful. The telephone number is 0333 212 59 34 and is open to receive calls at the following times:
- Monday - Friday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 20:00
- Sunday: 10:00 - 20:00
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey for today using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.
If you are travelling between Tuesday 23 June and Friday 26 June, the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner does not reflect these changes. Please check back later.
For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.
You can find the pick-up and drop-off location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.
Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.
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.
Last updated: 2:15 AM
