Special award presented to former Royal Navy sailor for bravery during train knife attack
Train driver’s life-saving actions are honoured
A special award has been given to a former Royal Navy veteran for his life-saving actions during the horrifying Huntingdon train knife attack.
Train driver Andrew Johnson has been presented with The Type 42 Association’s first ever “Bob Mullen Recognition Award” at Portsmouth’s The Royal Maritime Hotel yesterday (Saturday, April 18), which recognises any member’s extraordinary actions.
It comes after Mr Johnson arranged for his train to move from the fast to the slow track after he learned of the ongoing attack on November 1 2025 where multiple people were stabbed on board the 6.25pm service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.
Mr Johnson’s quick-thinking allowing for an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon Railway Station where armed police from Cambridgeshire Police then boarded the train and arrested a suspect within eight minutes of the first 999 call. Eleven people were injured in the knife attack, with two patients left with life-threatening injuries.
“I contacted the signaller right away as soon as I had heard what was happening,” he told The News. “You just don't have time to think about it at the time and it is only afterwards that the shock really sets in,”
Upon hearing of Mr Johnson’s actions, The Type 42 Association thought he was the perfect candidate for the special award which is named after Ex Chief Petty Officer Robert ‘Bob’ Mullen who founded the association in 2012 and died in 2023. It is the first time it has been presented.
Association chairman Alan Lenton told The News: “The award is a way of honouring the memory of our founding member Bob so that we can keep his memory alive.
“We didn't want it to be an annual award, just one which was presented to someone who goes above and beyond, and of course that is exactly what Andrew did in Huntingdon.”
The award is particularly poignant as Mr Johnson, a former Chief Petty Officer, knew and served alongside Mr Mullen on HMS Newcastle during his 17-year career in the Royal Navy which also saw him serve on HMS Amazon, HMS Sandown and other minehunters.
He was based in Portsmouth for most of his career before moving to Peterborough in 2004 when he left the navy. He became a train driver in 2006.
Members of Mr Mullen’s family were invited to Royal Maritime Hotel to watch Mr Johnson receive his award from Vice Admiral Paul Bennett RN (retired), which was presented in the form of a glass decanter, where he also gave a talk about what happened that day on the train.
“It was quite an emotional day, seeing members of Bob’s family and seeing a number of people who I served with who I have not seen for many years,” he said.
“I really do feel very honoured to have been given the award.”
Since his actions, Mr Johnson has also met King Charles III as well as being honoured by the High Sherriff in Cambridgeshire. He will also be a special guest of the Royal Naval Association at the Army v Navy rugby match at Twickenham next month.
Anthony Williams, 32, from Langford Road in Peterborough, is charged with a total of 13 counts of attempted murder, which also relate to other alleged attacks in Peterborough and east London prior to the train incident.
A trial is due to take place later this year.