‘Hero’ practice driver whose fast considering saved lives is known as as Iraq conflict veteran

The ‘hero’ train driver whose ‘quick thinking’ of diverting the ill-fated service to Huntingdon has been named as an Iraq war and Royal Navy veteran.

Andrew Johnson has now been identified as the man behind the wheel of the train, who was alerted by passengers that they were being attacked by a knifeman.

The train driver, from Peterborough, diverted the train taking passengers to the platform where emergency services were waiting.

Nigel Roebuck, Aslef officer who leads on negotiations with LNER, said the driver of the train on which the Huntingdon mass stabbing took place was “shaken up” but is receiving support.

Asked how the driver is doing, Mr Roebuck told Sky News: “He’s good. He was, he was clearly shaken up, you know. And obviously we didn’t kind of get too, too into detail about things.

“We just basically said, you know, you know where we are if you need us, the lines are open for us. And I think LNER have probably done the same with him.

“So he’s getting a great level of support, and that’s good, all we can do is make sure that he’s looked after.

“It sounds as if he did exactly the right thing when the emergency developed in that he didn’t stop the train in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously difficult for the emergency services to reach, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there.”

Mr Johnson has been working as a train driver since 2018. Before that, he served in the Royal Navy for 17 years, it is believed.

The ‘hero’ train driver was deployed to Iraq back in 2003 for the second Gulf War. It is understood that he completed his career as Chief Petty Officer, after he worked as a weapons engineer.

It was only days before the attack where Mr Johnson was fundraising for the Royal British Legion in a local Waitrose, the The Telegraph reported.

Another LNER staff member is currently in ‘critical condition’ in hospital after “undoubtedly saved many people’s lives” on the train, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

The staff member, who has not been named, was one of 11 people taken to hospital after the mass stabbing on Saturday’s 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.

BTP declared a major incident when the train came to a stop in Huntingdon after passengers pulled the emergency alarms. Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of BTP, said: “This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact.

“My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers.”

Police arrested two men on suspicion of murder, with one having now been released. The 32-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the Huntingdon train knife attack is now being treated as the only suspect, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

The man, from Peterborough, boarded the train at Peterborough station. Another man, a 35-year-old from London, has been released with no further action, BTP said in a statement.

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