A train driver was killed and dozens of others were seriously injured when two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services crashed near Bedford. Passengers on board have described the horror as people "flew into one another" and were left "bleeding profusely."
Passenger Accounts of the Crash
One passenger, Brett Byatt, said he thought 90% of people on his carriage had serious injuries, could not stand or move their neck after the crash just before 5pm on Friday (June 19). Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Byatt described the scene: "The people in first class ended up with stomach and rib injuries, because they went into the tables they have in first class, and EMR trains, the way that they're structured with seats, was probably the worst way it could have been structured for a train crash."
He added: "When people flew into one another, the seats that they were on broke backwards into the people behind them." The teacher, who lives in Bedford and was unharmed, said: "I'd probably say 90% of the people on my carriage had injuries, I'd probably say from three to four of us were uninjured in a full carriage. Everyone else had either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn't stand, or couldn't move their neck, or I saw a woman's snapped leg."
Aftermath and Investigation
British Transport Police confirmed a train driver was killed and 33 other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. A further 56 people sustained minor injuries. An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash. Network Rail said its "absolute priority" was ensuring "everyone receives the care and support they need."
Passenger Pete Knapp described people "crying, screaming" and said some seemed to have major injuries. Dr Knapp, 40, 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." He added: "I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs."
Emergency Response and Service Disruption
There was a huge emergency response, including multiple air ambulance helicopters and road vehicles. People were asked to avoid the scene. Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital both asked people not to attend their emergency departments "unless they have a genuine medical emergency." EMR trains between Bedford and London St Pancras have been suspended until at least Monday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as "hugely concerning" and said he was "grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident."
Union Reactions
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), said: "We are devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died as a result of (Friday's) crash between Luton and Bedford." Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash near Bedford (on Friday) and with the passengers who were injured."
A team of Rail Accident Investigation Branch inspectors went to the site to gather evidence. The crash follows a collision between two trains in mid-Wales in October 2024 in which one passenger died and four other people were seriously hurt.
