A signal fault is being investigated as the cause of a deadly train collision in Bedford that killed a driver and injured more than 100 people. Two East Midlands Railway (EMR) passenger trains collided just after 5pm on Friday, with one train smashing into the back of the other on the same line.
Fatalities and injuries
The driver of the stopped train from Nottingham died in the crash. The East of England Ambulance Service reported that 11 people suffered 'very serious' injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and 56 sustained minor injuries treated at the scene or in hospital. One carriage derailed, but most remained on the tracks.
Signal fault and automatic warning system
Investigators are focusing on a signal fault that may have caused the crash. The driver of the stationary train had been reporting a fault to staff by phone when the second train hit. A second potential error involves the second train's automatic warning system (AWS), which triggers an alarm if a train passes a yellow or red signal without braking. If ignored, the train protection warning system applies brakes. It is unclear if this system malfunctioned.
Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers' union, 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.'
Passenger accounts
Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, described the chaos: 'There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, and 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.' He added: 'I've got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell, but I'm all right.'
Political and official response
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as 'hugely concerning' and expressed gratitude to emergency services. A Network Rail spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the efforts of emergency services on scene and our thoughts are with everyone involved.'
Train details
The rolling stock involved were a class 360 (at least 20 years old) and a class 810 (introduced by EMR in December 2025). Rail journalist Tony Miles said the collision appeared to be a 'relatively slow speed collision'. All seriously injured patients were taken to hospital.
