A person was struck by a train near Stevenage, emergency services attended and lines reopened, but significant delays to multiple operators are expected during the afternoon and evening
The rail network serving King’s Cross faced severe disruption after a person was hit by a train between Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City. British Transport Police officers were called to Stevenage station at 11.32am on 20 May, and emergency services attended the scene.
The casualty was sadly pronounced dead at the location, and the incident is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner as part of the standard process following a fatality on the railway.
Although the on-site work by emergency services has been completed and the affected sections have been reopened, recovery of timetabled services is gradual.
National Rail has warned that trains may still be cancelled or face severe delays of up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected to continue through peak periods, with operators forecasting problems until at least 7pm as services return to normal.
What happened and official response
The incident occurred on a stretch of line between Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City, prompting a closure of all lines between Peterborough and Royston and London while emergency crews worked. The British Transport Police confirmed their attendance and said that paramedics also responded. The declaration that the event is not being treated as suspicious indicates investigators do not anticipate criminal activity, but the coroner will receive a file to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the death.
Services affected and operational impact
Operators and routes disrupted
A wide range of operators has been affected, creating knock-on delays across long-distance and regional services. Affected companies include Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink. Major routes toward the north and Scotland — services to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Newcastle — were among those impacted, while commuter links into central London also saw cancellations and revisions. Passengers have reported chaotic scenes at platforms as timetables were disrupted and departure boards offered only a limited number of services.
Concurrent faults and wider network effects
The situation was compounded by an unrelated issue on the Elizabeth line: a signalling problem at Hanwell forced trains to run at reduced speed on some sections, affecting services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport & Slough. That disruption was expected to continue until around 5pm. Combined faults and the emergency closure around Stevenage produced cross-network ripple effects, including acceptance of King’s Cross tickets on alternative operators at stations such as Euston.
Advice for passengers and support options
Commuters and long-distance travellers were advised to delay non-essential journeys or to seek alternative routes where possible; many operators stated that tickets could be used on reasonable alternative services. Station staff at King’s Cross were reported to be doing their best to assist passengers with rebooking and information, although the scale of the disruption meant delays in providing guidance. National Rail continued to update its travel alerts as services began a slow recovery.
Support and next steps
For anyone affected by the events of the day and struggling with distress, confidential support is available. The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 from any phone, or by email at [email protected]; their website lists local branches and resources. Meanwhile, authorities have completed on-site procedures and reopened the lines, but travellers should expect continued disruption until at least 7pm and check operator updates before travelling. The British Transport Police will compile a coroner’s file as part of the formal investigation into the fatality.
