Multiple Southeastern train services on mainline routes were cancelled after bedbugs were discovered in driver cabs on two trains based at West Marina Depot in Hastings on 22 September 2026. The affected services ran via Battle, Tunbridge Wells, and Sevenoaks, connecting Greater London with East Sussex and Kent.
Operational Response to Bedbug Discovery
Southeastern removed the two affected trains from service for thorough cleaning and inspection. The carriages with infested driver cabs were locked to keep passengers isolated from the contaminated areas. Trains remained operational only while returning to the depot at Hastings to facilitate treatment.
No bedbugs were detected on any High Speed 1
trains during the investigation, and no infestations were found in passenger seating areas across the network.
Official Statements and Safety Measures
Southeastern stated that all trains and stations undergo thorough cleaning procedures to ensure passenger safety. Oly Turner, the head of drivers at Southeastern, confirmed the infestation was limited to driver cabs in only two trains and that no bedbugs were found in passenger areas.
Turner said, “When we receive reports such as these we check trains thoroughly before they are put back into service when given the all clear.” He emphasised cooperation from train drivers in managing these isolated incidents.
Impact on Passengers and Affected Routes
Cancellations and travel disruptions
occurred on Southeastern’s mainline routes in early October 2026 due to the removal of the affected trains. The impacted services connected London with the Hastings area, passing through Battle, Tunbridge Wells, and Sevenoaks.
The affected trains operate from West Marina Depot in Hastings, which serves as the terminus for the routes involved. Southeastern reassured passengers about the comprehensive cleaning regimes applied to trains and stations to maintain safe travel conditions.
