A heroic member of staff from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is fighting for their life following a shocking knife attack aboard the 6.25pm Doncaster to London King’s Cross service on Saturday evening. The British Transport Police (BTP) described the unnamed worker’s actions as “nothing short of heroic”, crediting them with saving multiple lives during the terrifying ordeal.
The violent incident occurred when the train stopped in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after passengers pulled the emergency alarms. Ten individuals were taken to hospital, with five since discharged. One LNER staff member remains in critical condition, having risked their own safety to protect others.
BTP declared a major incident as two men were arrested within eight minutes of the first call at 7.42pm. One man, a 35-year-old from London, was released after being cleared of involvement. A 32-year-old British national from Peterborough remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers have confirmed that the attack is not believed to be terror-related.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy stated:
“Having viewed CCTV footage from the train, the actions of the railway worker were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved people’s lives. Our thoughts remain with all those injured and their families, particularly our brave colleague who continues to receive specialist care.”
Eyewitnesses reported harrowing scenes as passengers hid in train toilets and the buffet car to escape the assailant, who was seen wielding a large knife. One witness described the aftermath as “chaotic,” with victims “drenched in blood” and fellow passengers using clothing to stem bleeding wounds.
A passenger named Gavin told the media he saw the suspect being tasered before arrest, while others praised the bravery of an older man who intervened to protect a young girl.
LNER Managing Director David Horne said the company was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the events, adding:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially our colleague who remains in a life-threatening condition. I want to thank the emergency services and recognise our crew and operational teams for their quick and courageous actions.”
The train’s driver, Andrew Johnson, humbly stated that he was “only doing [his] job,” directing praise towards his colleague still in hospital. Nigel Roebuck, regional officer for Aslef, confirmed that the driver acted “exactly as he was trained to do”, describing his actions as “courageous and determined under immense pressure.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales have also expressed their condolences, saying their thoughts are with the families of those affected and commending the swift response of train staff and emergency services.
Huntingdon Station remains closed while forensic teams continue investigations. Disruption to LNER services between London King’s Cross and northern destinations including Leeds, Doncaster, Lincoln, Bradford Forster Square, and Harrogate is expected to last until Monday. Passengers are advised to check travel updates and defer non-essential journeys.
Authorities continue to appeal for witnesses and information that could assist the investigation. Anyone with relevant details is urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 and quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25.
