Southeastern cancels services after bedbugs reported in cabs

Southeastern cancelled at least three train services on Friday after bedbugs were reported in drivers’ cabs, while the company said the cases were limited to two trains and no insects had been identified in passenger areas. The affected trains serve routes between London and Kent, and the reports were linked to the West Marina train care depot near Hastings, East Sussex. The total number of cancellations over the period was not established. Reports described cancellations on Friday as well as at other times since the first reported sighting on September 22. Oly Turner, Southeastern’s head of drivers, said cases had been contained to the cabs of two trains. He said the company checks trains thoroughly before returning them to service and that no bedbugs had been identified in areas used by passengers. Southeastern also said it had found no bedbugs on its High Speed 1 services between London and Kent. Reports said a train nicknamed the Bedbug Express ran on Tuesday, September 29, with two carriages locked and out of use. The train made journeys between London and Kent, and was later taken out of service for inspection, according to one account.