Significant disruption for Leeds LNER passengers following welfare incident
Train operator LNER has warned Leeds passengers that their journeys could be cancelled or delayed today.
Significant disruption is expected on the LNER route from Leeds to London Kings Cross following an incident between Newark North Gate and Retford yesterday evening.
LNER said that a driver contacted Network Rail at 7.30pm last night after seeing a person on the railway close to Retford Station.
All trains were stopped in the area following concerns of safety for a man.
The operator has today warned it is expecting significant disruption to services due to trains and crews being out of position .
Though some services will be running, LNER has strongly advised customers to check their journey before travelling.
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “I would like to offer my profound apologies to all those whose journeys have been affected.
“We are aware that people were waiting at stations and onboard our trains for a long time, and we know that our customers will have been travelling for important reasons.
“I want to reassure everyone that our teams, both on the ground and behind the scenes, were working hard to get people moving towards their destinations as quickly as possible.
“However, due to the sensitivity of the incident and with the safety of everyone involved being paramount, we could only run our services through the affected area when British Transport Police determined it was safe to do so.
“We thank our customers for their patience and understanding while teams responded to the sensitive situation.”
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “We were called just before 7:40pm yesterday (16 April) to reports of a trespasser on the line near Retford railway station.
"Officers responded alongside Nottinghamshire Police and other emergency services, and a man was located in a precarious position on a bridge.
“A specialist police negotiator also attended the scene to bring the incident to a safe conclusion due to concerns for the man’s welfare.
"At 3:20am on 17 April the man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway and taken into police custody where he remains.”
LNER customers with tickets dated Thursday, April 16, or Friday, April 17, can use their existing tickets on any LNER service to their destination up to, and including, Monday 20 April 2026.
It is recommended that customers make a new seat reservation, for free, via the LNER app, website, or at its Travel Centres.
Further information for customers whose journeys were affected can be found here.