A train driver tragically lost his life and dozens more were seriously injured when two passenger trains collided near Bedford. The incident involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services, with one crashing into the rear of the other on the same track just after 5pm on Friday.
One passenger aboard one of the trains recounted being "flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke." The East of England Ambulance Service reported that a train driver was killed, 11 people suffered "very serious" injuries and 22 were seriously hurt. All those with the most severe injuries have now been transported to hospital. An additional 56 individuals sustained minor injuries and received treatment either at the scene or in hospital.
While most carriages of the two southbound trains stayed on the tracks, at least one derailed. The two trains involved were running the 4.40pm service from Corby and the 3.50pm service from Nottingham, both heading to London St Pancras.
Passenger Describes Scenes of Panic
Passenger Pete Knapp described people "crying, screaming" and noted that some appeared to have significant injuries. The 40 year old told the Press Association: "There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused. I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I'm quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors."
Dr Knapp said he witnessed people with "life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries" as well as "people with bandages, people who couldn't see straight", while others like him remained mobile. He said: "I've got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I'm all right." He said he hadn't felt the train decelerate before the collision but other passengers told him they had.
Emergency Response and Political Reaction
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as "hugely concerning" and said he is "grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident." Air ambulance helicopters landed at the scene after the collision occurred just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6. A lengthy convoy of emergency vehicles lined a country road as rescue teams and passengers assembled in an adjacent field.
The public were urged to stay away from the crash site, while Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital both requested people avoid their emergency departments "unless they have a genuine medical emergency" as they dealt with the incident. EMR services to and from London remained cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Details of the Collision
Digital train tracking systems reveal the rolling stock involved in the collision were a class 360 and class 810, with the nose of the former striking the back of the latter. EMR started introducing class 810s in December last year, while class 360s are at least 20 years old. A representative for Network Rail, the body responsible for Britain's rail infrastructure, stated: "We are supporting the efforts of emergency services on scene and our thoughts are with everyone involved."
In the meantime, Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), confirmed that the individual killed in the train crash near Bedford was the driver of one of the trains. He expressed: "We are devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died as a result of today's crash between Luton and Bedford. The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the Aslef trade union at this awful time."
Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said: "Our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash near Bedford today and with the passengers who were injured in the accident. We want to thank the emergency services who responded so quickly, to help those on board, and are still at the scene."
Inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch were present at the site to collect evidence. This crash comes after a collision between two trains in mid-Wales in October 2024 where one passenger lost their life and four others were seriously injured. That incident marked Britain's first fatal crash involving multiple trains in over twenty-five years.
