Some commuters affected by the disruption caused by Friday’s fatal train collision near Bedford found parking tickets attached to their vehicles when they eventually returned home.
Among them was Bedfordian Mathew Vaughan, who says he was unable to return to Bedford station on 19 June after rail services were suspended following the collision south of the town.
Mr Vaughan told the Bedford Independent he had travelled into London on Friday morning as normal, but became stranded when the railway was closed after the crash.
Read: No direct Bedford-to-London trains this week as rail recovery operation begins
Unable to get home and without a charger for his phone, he stayed overnight in an Airbnb before finding somewhere to charge his phone the following morning.
Concerned about his vehicle being parked at Bedford station, he said he paid for an additional day’s parking remotely at 8.49am on Saturday (20 June).
However, when he eventually returned to Bedford shortly after midday, he found a Penalty Charge Notice attached to his car.
Tickets rescinded
Mr Vaughan said: “After so many people got stuck in London due to the tragic train crash, the parking enforcement at the railway car park couldn’t give people a single day’s grace.
“I still paid for parking as soon as I could because I knew bureaucracy would likely trump pragmatism or kindness.”
He said several other vehicles in the car park also appeared to have been issued with tickets.
The incident comes after hundreds of passengers faced severe disruption following the collision between two East Midlands Railway trains near Elstow on 19 June, which claimed the life of train driver Shaun Burton and left dozens of people injured.
Read: More than 100 treated after Bedford train crash as eight remain critical
Responding to the issue, Bedford Borough Council said it had already taken action.
A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of this matter and apologise for any incorrect tickets issued.
“The Council has already taken corrective action regarding these tickets.
“Anybody who still needs to have a ticket rescinded can email parking.services@bedford.gov.uk.”
The council has not said how many tickets may have been issued to passengers affected by the disruption.
