One person has died and several others were injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday evening, according to police. The incident involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services, with one train striking the rear of another on the same line shortly after 5pm.
Passenger accounts of the crash
Passenger Pete Knapp described the moment of impact: “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.” The 40-year-old told the Press Association that he observed individuals with broken legs and other serious injuries. He managed to escape by squeezing through a gap in the doors.
Dr. Knapp added, “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m alright.” He noted that he did not feel the train decelerate before the crash, though other passengers reported a sudden slowdown.
Official response
British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed in a statement that “a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.” Most carriages of the two southbound trains remained on the tracks, but at least one derailed. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union reported that passengers and crew sustained “serious injuries.”
The trains involved were the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both heading to London St Pancras. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the crash “hugely concerning” and expressed gratitude to emergency services for their swift response.
