Train Driver Recounts Split-Second Decision in Stabbing Attack

Andrew Johnson, the driver of a high-speed train that became the scene of a mass stabbing last year, told a court on Wednesday that he had only about 10 seconds to decide to switch to a slower line and make an emergency stop. Johnson was at the controls of the London-bound LNER service on 1 November when he heard a chilling message over the intercom: someone was screaming that a knifeman was stabbing people.

A Life-or-Death Decision

Giving evidence at Cambridge Crown Court, Johnson described the moment he heard the alarm. The train was travelling at 122mph near Abbots Ripton in Cambridgeshire when an unusual alarm indicated someone was trying to open a passenger door. He had five seconds to override it or the train would stop automatically, taking about a mile to come to a halt. While speaking to the train manager to investigate, another voice came over the intercom, screaming about the stabbing.

Johnson realised the best course of action was to get the train to a platform as quickly as possible. He said he had probably about 10 seconds to switch to the slow line, adding: "I just knew that was the right option, it just came instinctively." He pressed the urgent button and told a signaller to get him to Huntingdon and to alert the police, knowing that pressing the emergency button would have stopped all trains in the area.

Chaos on Board

As the train sped towards Huntingdon, Johnson could hear banging and screaming on the cab door. He said it was incredibly loud and people were begging him to open the door. However, he knew that leaving his seat would cause the train to stop after a short period. His mind was completely focused on one thing: getting the train to Huntingdon.

When the train pulled into Huntingdon station at 19:44 GMT, Johnson had to override the system to open the doors because it was not a programmed stop. It took about 15 seconds. He then saw passengers on the platform, and they didn't just run, they sprinted like he had never seen before. Throughout the ordeal, Johnson never saw the attacker.

The Trial Continues

Anthony Williams, 33, of Peterborough, denies 10 counts of attempted murder on the train. He is also charged with four other attempted murders following earlier incidents in Peterborough and London. The court has heard that Williams carried out the attacks, but jurors must decide whether he intended to kill. The trial continues.