Southeastern has locked carriages out of use and cancelled services after bedbugs were found on some of its trains, in an outbreak traced to a train care depot near Hastings.
The operator, which runs commuter services between London and Kent, has taken several trains out of service since the insects were first spotted on 22 September. Drivers have declined to board trains they believe are affected, and at least three services were cancelled on Friday, with more cancellations since.
The outbreak has been linked to the West Marina train care depot near Hastings, where stock used on the London to Kent routes is maintained.
Carriages locked on the “Bedbug Express”
On Tuesday, one service nicknamed the “Bedbug Express” by insiders ran several journeys between London and Kent stations with two carriages locked and out of use, after a driver reported seeing the insects at one end of the train.
Internal messages show drivers have refused to take affected sets out of the depot, prompting the cancellations. Passengers are being urged to check before they travel, with disruption expected to continue while affected trains are inspected and cleaned.
It comes during a wider weekend of disruption on the transport network — our round-up of the London Tube and rail closures to know this Saturday and Sunday has the full picture, while Southern passengers also face cancellations and rail-replacement buses across four routes.
What Southeastern says
A Southeastern spokesman said four trains had been reported as having bedbugs on them, of which two were confirmed and then cleaned before being returned to service.
Oly Turner, head of drivers at Southeastern, said: “We have a great relationship with our drivers, who have helped hugely in cooperating with us over these isolated incidents.”
“When we receive reports such as these, we check trains thoroughly before they are put back into service when given the all clear,” he said.
Turner added that cases had been contained to the drivers’ cabs in only two of the trains, and that no bedbugs had been identified in areas used by passengers.
“We continually carry out robust cleaning across our trains and stations, ensuring our customers and employees can travel safely and with confidence,” he said.
Bedbugs are small, brown insects that hide in warm crevices and can cause spots and rashes through their bites.
How train deep-cleaning works
When insects are found on rolling stock, the affected set is typically withdrawn to a depot and the carriages sealed off while pest-control specialists are called in. Treatment usually combines high-temperature steam — bedbugs and their eggs are killed by sustained heat of around 50 to 60C — with residual insecticides applied deep into crevices, followed by intensive vacuuming of seats, panelling, cabling runs and cab equipment.
Carriages are then quarantined and re-inspected, often more than once, with monitoring traps left in place to catch any survivors. Only when inspectors give the all clear does the train return to passenger service — which is why a single confirmed sighting in the Southeastern bedbugs outbreak can keep a set out of action for days.
Southeastern says its trains are checked thoroughly and only put back into service once they have been given the all clear.
What to do if you spot bedbugs on a train
If you think you have seen a bedbug, tell station staff or the train crew straight away and note the service, time and carriage number. A clear photo, taken if you can do so safely, helps pest controllers confirm what they are dealing with far faster than a description alone.
Avoid settling into another seat with your bags if you can, and when you get home check the seams of your clothing and luggage. A hot wash followed by a tumble dry will kill any insects that may have hitched a ride.
Your rights if your train is cancelled
If your Southeastern service is cancelled, or you arrive 15 minutes or more late because of the disruption, you can claim compensation through the operator’s Delay Repay scheme. Keep hold of your ticket and make a note of the services you actually used — claims are made online after you travel.
For anyone heading to the station by road, M25 slip roads and carriageways are also closing overnight around London this weekend, so allow extra time however you travel — and check live departures before setting off.
