In one sentence: Southeastern’s bed-bug saga ran from September into October: in mid-October six more Kent–London trains were suspended after suspected bed bugs were reported in seat seams, while the operator denies bed bugs in passenger areas — and drivers were reported to have refused to drive without protective clothing.
The bed-bug problem on Britain’s railways is not over. After bed bugs were found in drivers’ cabs on Southeastern’s Kent–London trains in late September, with some services cancelled, mid-October brought fresh reports of suspected bed bugs in passenger seat seams and six more trains suspended. To avoid confusion: the first round was first spotted on 22 September and reported on 2–3 October; the second round was reported on 17 October and involves Slade Green depot. Both rounds concern Southeastern, but the locations and circumstances differ.
Mid-October: six trains suspended over suspected bed bugs in seat seams
- Reported on 17 October, six Kent–London trains were suspended: passengers reportedly spotted suspected bed bugs in seat seams, with photos circulating online; the trains involved came from Slade Green depot in Bexley.
- The operator denies bed bugs in passenger areas: Southeastern said specialist contractors had not confirmed bed bugs in passenger areas, and the matter was under investigation.
- Note: whether the insects in the second round were bed bugs has not been officially confirmed: reports use words like “suspected” and “reported” — do not treat it as confirmed.
Late September to early October: the first round — drivers’ cabs, the “Bedbug Express”, and the protective-suit row
- First spotted on 22 September: bed bugs were found in the drivers’ cabs of trains at West Marina depot near Hastings, with further reports following.
- At least three services were cancelled on Friday 2 October, with more cancellations after that. Four trains were reportedly said to have bed bugs; two were confirmed, cleaned and returned to service, while two more were inspected and found clear.
- The “Bedbug Express”: a train reportedly kept running several London–Kent journeys on Tuesday 29 September with two carriages locked out of use, after a driver spotted insects at one end.
- Drivers reportedly refused to drive without protective clothing: according to internal messages cited by The Telegraph, drivers refused to board affected trains; one driver reportedly demanded a white full-body protective suit before moving a train across the depot, but no suits were available, leading to two trains being cancelled. The above is as reported and has not been confirmed by the operator.
What the operator says
- Oly Turner, Southeastern’s Head of Drivers, said cases were confined to the drivers’ cabs of only two trains, with no bed bugs found in passenger areas; none were found on High Speed 1 services either.
- Checked before returning to service: the operator said trains are thoroughly checked after a report and only returned to service once cleared; two further trains were inspected, found clear and put back into service.
- On cleaning: the operator said it carries out thorough cleaning across trains and stations so passengers and staff can travel safely and with confidence.
Protecting yourself on public transport: the essentials
- Before sitting down, quickly check seat seams, the gaps behind seat backs and armrests — bed bugs like to hide in crevices, so look for tiny black spots or live insects.
- Do not put bags or backpacks in seat gaps or on the carpet; keep them on the rack or on your lap where possible.
- When you get home, wash clothes on a high heat and tumble-dry them; do not take luggage into the bedroom before checking it.
For the full checklist see Travel Bed-Bug Checklist; if you have brought bed bugs home, the DIY Bed-Bug Removal Guide has the full process; to understand why bed bugs are getting harder to kill, see Super Bed Bugs and Insecticide Resistance.
Sources
- British Bulletin (17 Oct 2026) — https://britishbulletin.com/bedbug-chaos-strikes-southeastern-trains-again-as-six-services-cancelled-after-parasites-spotted-crawling-between-passenger-seats/
- Rejoy Health (17 Oct 2026) — https://www.rejoyhealth.com/blog/southeastern-train-bedbug-scare-six-services-cancelled-after-reported-sightings
- The Telegraph (2 Oct 2026) — https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/bedbug-outbreak-hits-commuter-train-carriages-south-eastern/
- BBC (3 Oct 2026) — https://newsatw.com/southeastern-trains-cancelled-after-bedbugs-found-on-board/
- Daily Mail (2 Oct 2026, via PapaLinc) — https://papalinc.com/trains-cancelled-and-carriages-sealed-up-over-bed-bug-infestation/
(Written on 27 Oct 2026, based on public reporting. The first round was first spotted on 22 September and reported on 2–3 October; the second round was reported on 17 October. Whether the insects in the seat seams in the second round were bed bugs has not been officially confirmed; the driver refusals and protective-suit demand are as reported, and the operator denies bed bugs in passenger areas. Details are as reported.)