Bedford train collision latest: Driver killed and more than 80 injured after horror crash during rush hour

Bedford train collision latest: Driver killed and more than 80 injured after horror crash during rush hour Members of the public were told to avoid A&E as police declared a major incident - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A train driver has died and more than 80 people were injured after two trains collided south of Bedford during rush hour on Friday. Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the RMT union, said the driver and former union rep was killed when the East Midlands Railway trains collided on the same line shortly after 5pm. The driver has not been named. East of England Ambulance Service said 11 people were left with very serious injuries while 22 suffered “serious injuries” in the crash. A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or in hospital. Members of the public have been urged not to attend Bedford Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, as well as Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, unless they have a “genuine medical emergency” following the collision. Passenger Pete Knapp described people “crying, screaming” and said some seemed to have major injuries. 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”. Watch: Footage shows scene of Bedford train collision Recap: Train crash appears to have been a 'relatively slow speed collision', expert says The train crash outside Bedford appears to have been a “relatively slow speed collision”, a rail expert has said. Tony Miles told Sky News the damage to the trains looked “fairly minimal”. He said: “Obviously it’s a rear end collision, they were going in the same direction, so one of them, the rear one was going faster than the one it’s caught up with, for some reason. That’s not a complicated assumption. “So, the question has to be how has that train that’s in the rear got into contact with the train that it was following, and obviously it’s either gone past the signal that was telling it it should stop, or the signal was faulty, or the driver’s made a mistake in some way, or didn’t read the signal, or something. “Over the years, all of those different scenarios have happened, and it’s now a question of finding out why did one train catch up with the train that was in front of it, that was obviously going more slowly. Whether it was stopped. I don’t know, but I say from the collision damage it looked like a relatively low speed collision. “So either the train in the rear was already slowing down or they were both going fairly slowly, and something’s happened, but it’s not a high speed crash, certainly from the damage.” He added: “Even if you’re going 40 miles an hour and you come to a halt in a few meters, you’ve got the energy of a 40-mile-an-hour body in you, and you’re going to move until you hit something, unfortunately. So, even relatively low speed collisions can be dangerous for people that are on board.” Mayor of East Midlands 'shocked and concerned' by collision In a statement, Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I’m shocked and concerned to hear that two East Midlands Railway Trains, one of which serves our region, have collided near Bedford this afternoon. “My thoughts are with any impacted passengers and staff members aboard and I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the emergency services for their fast response. “The Department for Transport is working with our emergency services, Network Rail and East Midlands Railway to ensure passengers and railway staff members are supported in the best way possible. “Please avoid sharing unconfirmed reports until we hear officially from the emergency services or one of the agencies who run these services.” In pictures: Investigators work at scene of crash How have MPs responded to Bedford crash? Ministers and local politicians have said the crash is “very concerning” as they shared their condolences with those affected. In a statement on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Hugely concerning reports of a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford. “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured. “I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident.” Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned” by reports of a collision between two passenger trains in Bedfordshire. In a post on X, the transport secretary said: “I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains. “I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected. “We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.” Early on Friday evening Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin told The Telegraph: “I am very concerned by the early reports of an incident this evening just outside Bedford and Kempston, involving two Midland Mainline trains travelling towards London. “My thoughts are with everyone involved, their families, and all those who may be affected. “I want to thank the emergency services and railway staff who are responding to the incident.” ‘People were screaming and crying’: Witness recalls being ‘flung’ into chair as trains collided near Bedford A witness described how people were “crying and screaming” following a train crash near Bedford on Friday. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue crews attended the scene just south of Bedford, with police confirming that two trains collided in the area. Aerial footage of the aftermath shows two damaged East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains with most carriages on the tracks but at least one shunted off. Footage shows a long line of emergency vehicles on a rural road as emergency crews and passengers gathered in the neighbouring field. Eyewitness, Dr Pete Knapp, 40, said: “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.” You can read more below: Witness recalls being ‘flung’ into chair as trains collided near Bedford What we don't know as investigators probe crash scene One person has died and dozens others have been injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon. Here’s what we don’t yet know: • Why the crash happened - investigators are on the scene but we don’t yet know what caused this afternoon’s crash • Who has died - police conffirmed one person has died in the collision, but their identity and whether they were a staff member or a passenger has not yet been confirmed Train driver died in crash, says union In a statement, Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), confirmed the person killed in the train crash near Bedford was the driver of one of the trains. He said: “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.” Currently unclear whether rail services will resume on Saturday It is currently unclear whether rail services will resume between Bedford and Luton on Saturday following a collision on Friday afternoon. East Midlands Railway confirmed no services would be running on the line for the rest of Friday earlier on, but the operator has yet to announce whether it will be able to resume services as usual over the weekend. Everything we know as one dead after two trains collided in Bedford • One person has died and 33 others left with “very serious” or “serious” injuries following a collision between two trains near Bedford • The two East Midlands Railway services involved were the 4.40pm from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3.50pm Nottingham to London St Pancras • A further 56 people had minor injuries • Hospitals in Bedfordshire have declared a major incident and are asking people not to attend A&E unless it is a “genuine emergency” • Sir Keir Starmer called the reports “hugely concerning” as he thanked emergency services for their response • Network Rail said the train crash near Bedford would cause disruption for the rest of Friday Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments