Southeastern railway cancelled two train services after bedbugs were discovered in drivers' cabs and carriages across the south of England and London, according to reports. One driver refused to operate a train without a full hazmat suit, and when none was available, the services were pulled, The Telegraph reported.
Driver Refuses to Board Without Hazmat Suit
The unnamed driver's refusal led to the cancellation of two services. Another train, which staff nicknamed the 'bedbug express', ran with two carriages locked to prevent the pests from spreading. It completed several journeys between London and Kent on Tuesday, September 29, according to the newspaper.
Southeastern has denied that the infestation has spread to passenger areas. Oly Turner, the company's head of drivers, said: "We have a great relationship with our drivers, who have helped hugely in cooperating with us over these isolated incidents."
Company Says Cases Contained to Two Trains
Turner added: "When we receive reports such as these, we check trains thoroughly before they are put back into service when given the all clear. Cases have been contained to the drivers cabs in only two of our trains and no bed bugs have been identified in areas for passengers."
The company also stated that it had not found any bedbugs on any of its high-speed trains running from London St Pancras into Kent. The outbreak has been traced to the West Marina depot, where pest control workers were recently photographed.
Cleaning and Safety Measures
Turner emphasised the company's cleaning regime: "We continually carry out robust cleaning across our trains and stations, ensuring our customers and employees can travel safely and with confidence."
Bedbugs are small insects that often live on furniture or bedding. According to NHS advice, their bites can cause itching but do not usually lead to health problems. If bedbugs are found in bedding, it must be washed at a high heat of at least 60C and dried on high heat for an extended period to kill the bugs and their eggs. They can also live in carpet and skirting boards, which require pest control treatment.
