Shaun Burton, 60, has been identified as the train driver who died in the collision between two East Midlands Railway services near Bedford on Friday, June 19. The crash left 100 passengers injured, with 11 sustaining very serious injuries, 32 suffering serious injuries, and 57 walking away with minor injuries.
Burton was at the controls of the Corby train when it ploughed into the rear of a service travelling from Nottingham to London St Pancras. His family released a statement saying: "We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident." They have appealed for privacy during their grief.
Family and Union Pay Tribute
British Transport Police (BTP) said: "Our thoughts continue to be with [Mr Burton's family] and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway." Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said: "We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues, which will never be filled. Shaun, a driver at East Midlands Railway, joined the railway relatively late in life. He loved public transport – he used to work on buses and coaches – before he became a train driver seven years ago. He was dedicated to the job, and devoted to his colleagues and enormously popular at his depot. The railway family grieves his passing; no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home."
Details of the Crash
The crash occurred on Friday afternoon, June 19, when the 4.40pm EMR service from Corby to London St Pancras slammed into the rear of the 3.50pm service from Nottingham to London St Pancras. National Rail described the incident as a "tragic, isolated incident."
