One train driver dead, 89 injured in collision of two trains near Bedford

The person who died in the Bedford crash was the driver of one of the two trains involved, according to Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. The crash occurred when one East Midlands Railway (EMR) service smashed into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday. Media reports have said the deceased is believed to have been driving the train that struck the stationary service. The collision left 11 people with very serious injuries, 22 seriously injured and 56 with minor injuries. All patients with the most serious injuries were taken to hospital. A passenger on board one of the trains reported being “flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke”. Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef the train drivers’ union, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash and with the passengers who were injured in the accident.” Most carriages of the two southbound trains remained on the tracks but at least one derailed. The two trains involved in Friday’s collision were operating the 4.40pm service from Corby and the 3.50pm service from Nottingham, both bound for London St Pancras. Air ambulance helicopters were on the ground after the collision happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6. There was a long line of emergency vehicles on a rural road as emergency crews and passengers gathered in a neighbouring field. The ambulance service said: “We quickly declared a major incident and put our emergency response plans into action. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response.” Members of the public were asked to avoid the scene of the crash. Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital also urged people not to attend their emergency departments “unless they have a genuine medical emergency” as they responded to the incident. EMR trains to and from London were suspended for the rest of the day. Peter Knapp, a scientist and filmmaker who was in the front carriage of one of the trains involved in the collision, said he felt as though he’d been “in a bomb explosion”. Knapp told the Press Association he saw people with life-threatening, major and minor injuries after the crash, including passengers with broken legs. He added to the BBC that he had seen “bloodied faces” and “smoke everywhere”. Posting on the social media platform Bluesky, Knapp said it was “sudden” with “no slowing down or horns. No warning”. “I’m ok with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good,” he wrote, adding that one carriage had been derailed. Two East Midland Railway trains, including a Luton Airport Express electric locomotive were involved in the collision (Photo: Politics UK/X) Sir Keir Starmer has said his thoughts are with the family of the person who died and those injured in the crash. In a statement on X, the Prime Minister said: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and those who have been seriously injured.” He added: “I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident.”Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of British Transport Police, said the force is “working at pace to establish exactly what’s happened” and “will provide further information as soon as we are able to”. Emergency services at the scene (Photo: PA) Relatives and friends of the passengers injured were asked not to travel to the scene by Bedfordshire Police, while the fire service also asked people to “avoid the area”. One of the trains involved in the collision was a Luton Airport Express train, which runs between central London and London Luton Airport and has a top speed of 110 mph. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was grateful to emergency services who were on the scene attending to those affected. Drone footage showing emergency services at the scene of the crash (Photo: Sky News) TSSA Union general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said the collision was “devastating” and added: “It’s vital now to let the emergency services do their work. The thoughts of the entire union are with the passengers and staff and emergency service workers on the trains involved.” Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin said he was “very sorry” to hear of the incident and would share more information “soon”. In a post on his Facebook page, he said: “I’m very sorry to hear there has been a train collision between Bedford and Luton. Emergency services are at the scene. “I will try to share more details soon.”