Significant service problems impacted LNER rail services throughout Friday 17 April after an emergency involving someone’s welfare meant travellers stayed on a motionless train for more than eight hours. On Thursday evening at around 7:30pm, an LNER driver informed Network Rail after seeing someone on the tracks near Retford, which led to an immediate halt of all train services in the area for safety reasons. Officers from British Transport Police and Network Rail attended and found a man in a distressed condition on a railway bridge at approximately 8:20pm, with staff and specialist negotiators speaking with him. The incident was brought to a safe conclusion at 3:20am on Friday morning, 17 April 2026. Oliver Pridmore from Nottinghamshire Live recounted being stuck on a motionless train close to Retford for several hours before the service turned back towards Newark, where a replacement bus was arranged. Substantial disruption continued on LNER routes throughout Friday 17 April as both trains and crew had been shifted from their planned positions. LNER Managing Director David Horne expressed sincere apologies to everyone whose travel plans were impacted, acknowledging that customers were waiting at stations and onboard trains for extended periods and that people were travelling for important purposes. He assured that teams, both in the field and working behind the scenes, laboured diligently to resume journeys toward destinations as swiftly as possible. However, due to the sensitive nature of the incident and with safety remaining the top priority, operations could only resume through the affected section once British Transport Police confirmed it was safe to do so. He thanked customers for their patience and understanding as teams responded to this delicate situation. A British Transport Police representative explained that notification was received just before 7:40pm on April 16 regarding a trespasser on the line adjacent to Retford railway station. Officers responded together with Nottinghamshire Police and additional emergency services, and a man was discovered in a dangerous position on a bridge. A specialist police negotiator also attended the scene to bring the incident to a safe conclusion due to welfare concerns for the man. At 3:20am on April 17, the man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway and remains in police custody. Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER, noted that teams collaborated closely with emergency services and train operators throughout this serious and sensitive incident to ensure everyone’s safety and reopen the railway as soon as it was safe to do so. He apologised to anyone whose journey was impacted while the situation was brought to a safe conclusion and confirmed that once the line reopened, teams worked promptly to restore services and assist operators in getting trains moving again. Customers possessing tickets for Thursday 16 April or Friday 17 April 2026 may travel on any LNER service to reach their destination using their current tickets until Monday 20 April 2026.