Bedford train crash LIVE: Nine in critical condition after horror train crash killed driver and injured dozens

Bedford train crash LIVE: Nine in critical condition after horror train crash killed driver and injured dozens A train driver has died and nine people are in critical condition after two passenger trains crashed between Bedford and Luton on Friday, leaving at least 89 others injured The King is "greatly saddened" by a train crash near Bedford that has left one driver dead and 89 people injured. 28 people are still in hospital and nine are in critical condition when the two passenger trains collided on Friday evening. Another 56 people sustained minor injuries. The crash happened at around 5.15pm yesterday, and all lines remain blocked between Luton and Bedford as emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath. Passengers reported hearing a "huge bang" before the crash, which left passengers injured and bloodied. The King is being kept regularly updated on developments, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. Did you witness the crash or were you on board? Email livenews@reachplc.com Key Events The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said on Saturday that its inspectors continued to gather evidence at the scene. "RAIB inspectors continue to gather evidence at the site of yesterday's collision between two trains near Elstow," RAIB said via a statement shared to X. "RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident. We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more." Passenger Pete Knapp described people “crying, screaming” and said some seemed to have major injuries after the crash on Friday, where the front of the 4.40pm departure from Corby to London St Pancras was crushed when it crashed into the rear of the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, to the same destination. The Corby train also had damage to the rear of the carriages which had been shunted into ones in front. Dr Knapp 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.” The 40-year-old said he saw people with “life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see straight”, while others like him were still able to walk. A furious train passenger has lashed out over Friday's train collision in Bedford that killed one, and left a further 99 people injured with 28 of those still in hospital. Passenger Brett Byatt has hit out as he believes the accident was preventable. He told the BBC he was among three or four people in his carriage who were not injured, adding: “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.” Mr Byatt, a teacher, who lives in Bedford, said he was feeling “angry” the morning after the collision. “I don’t know at whom, who specifically, but it’s more about we’ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I’m just wondering… why wasn’t that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this?” he said. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision between two EMR trains yesterday are still ongoing. No further information has been released to the public this evening and so a number of key questions remain unanswered. - Why was the leading train stopped (or moving very slowly)? - Why didn't the following train stop? - Did the signalling system operate correctly? - Did train protection systems fail? - Was there a problem with one of the trains? - What role did human factors play? - How severe was the impact and why were so many people injured? Read the full story here. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained works are carried out to understand the circumstance of the crash so that "lessons are learned". Asked about the cause of the collision, she said: "It is too early to speculate and that's why it's so important that the inspectors from the rail accident investigation branch were there very quickly. "They will do a thorough piece of work to establish the cause of this incident and to make sure that those lessons are learned, so that no one has to go through an experience like this again when they're using the railways in the UK." Read more here. A total of 28 people are still in hospital following yesterday's crash, with nine of them in critical condition. The collision, which involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains, killed a train driver and injured 100 in total. The train coming from Corby crashed into the rear of the train from Nottingham, killing the driver of the Corby train. Speaking at a press conference near the scene on Saturday, British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: "Tragically, the driver of one of the trains died in the collision. "His family have been informed and our deepest condolences are with them, his friends, and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway. "The driver’s family, as you would expect, are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X today that he had spoken with the chief executive of East of England Ambulance Service. He said: "I expressed my gratitude to the air ambulance crews, the emergency services who responded under extremely difficult circumstances, as well as the NHS staff taking care of the injured. "My thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating incident." Simon Bentley and his wife were also on one of the trains involved in the collision. A passenger on the train going from Nottingham to St Pancras has described the "almighty impact" he and his wife felt during the collision. Simon Bentley said he was travelling from Kettering to London with his partner when he felt the train brake "really hard, which seemed odd". He told the BBC: "I think [we're] actually just really relieved that we're both still here. We're very lucky and obviously very, very sad about what's happened to the driver." Mr Bentley added that, following the impact, one of the cabin doors smashed and objects were "everywhere all flying around". Another London-bound passenger, Brett Byatt, explained passengers "went flying into one another". He told the BBC he heard a "boom" followed by "shrieks and groans of pain" and that he witnessed a woman with her leg "completely snapped". Mr Byatt, who was one of only a handful of people in his carriage who escaped uninjured, said: "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." Paul Gates, deputy chief paramedic at East of England Ambulance Service, said a total of 100 people were injured in the crash, along with one person - the Corby train driver - who died a the scene. Of those injured, 11 sustained very serious injuries, 32 were seriously injured and 57 suffered minor injuries. Those with less serious injuries were treated at the scene or taken to hospital, with a total of 64 people taken to six hospitals. Inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) remain at the scene of the train collision to establish the circumstances of the incident. A statement released this afternoon reads: "RAIB inspectors continue to gather evidence at the site of yesterday's collision between two trains near Elstow. "RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident. We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more." RAIB independently investigates accidents to improve railway safety and inform the industry and the public. A number of alternative train operators, including LNER, Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern, are accepting EMR tickets while the Midland Mainline remains closed at Bedford. A statement from LNER reads: "The thoughts of LNER are with all the customers and our railway colleagues impacted by the incident on East Midlands Railway on Friday, 19 June. "For as long as the Midland Mainline is closed at Bedford, train operators, including LNER, are accepting tickets for EMR customers. "If your journey is affected, we'll accept tickets on any alternative route. If you decide to travel on EMR once the line is reopened, then your connecting ticket on other operators will be valid on that other day too." Avanti West Coast has also stated that customers with EMR tickets can use any of its services to travel to their destination until the end of service on Sunday, June 21. Meanwhile, Thameslink customers who were unable to travel yesterday can use their tickets to travel on all Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services today (June 20) and future dates. A Thameslink statement reads: "We’ll do what we can to help you continue your journey by rail. Where this isn’t possible, our colleagues will advise on alternative arrangements. "For as long as the Midland Mainline is closed at Bedford, train operators, including Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern, are accepting tickets for EMR customers. "If your journey is affected, we'll accept tickets on any alternative route. If you choose to travel with EMR once the line has reopened, your connecting ticket with other operators will also be valid on the day you travel." Police and network rail crews remain at the scene of the fatal train crash near Bedford. Reporters have been allowed onto a field next to the railway line to get a closer view of the scene. The front of the train from Corby has been crushed where it collided with the rear of the train from Nottingham. On the rear train, which has Luton Airport Express livery, there is visible damage to the rear of the carriages which have been shunted into ones in front. Most of the carriage doors are open on both trains. There is a gap in the hedges where crews are accessing the tracks. Ellie Burrows, Regional Managing Director Network Rail East, said: "I want to echo what has already been said. This is a profoundly sad day for everyone affected by this incident, and for the wider railway family. "Our thoughts are with all those involved, particularly the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who tragically lost his life. "I would also like to thank the emergency services and railway colleagues who have responded with such professionalism and dedication throughout today. "This will be a complex recovery operation. We have significant railway resources deployed on the ground and teams from across the industry are working closely together to support the response, recover the railway safely and minimise disruption wherever possible. "The focus now is on supporting those affected and working with the relevant authorities as they investigate what happened. We will provide every assistance we can to the RAIB, British Transport Police and other agencies involved. "For customers, we would continue to encourage people to check National Rail Enquiries and operator websites for the latest travel information." Paul Gates, Deputy Chief Paramedic at the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “The East of England Ambulance Service would like to thank everyone involved in the large-scale emergency response to this major incident. “We would also like to thank those affected for their cooperation and understanding while our crews worked swiftly to assess, triage and treat a high number of casualties. “Tragically, one person died at the scene. Eleven people sustained very serious injuries, a further 22 were seriously injured, and 56 others suffered minor injuries. Those with less serious injuries were treated at the scene or taken to hospital where necessary. “In total, we transported 54 people to six hospitals. “We dispatched a significant number of resources, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist Hazardous Area Response Teams, and six air ambulances. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident. We also extend our sincere thanks to all emergency service colleagues for their swift, coordinated and professional response.” The chief constable added: “We declared a major incident last night and the emergency response was significant involving a joint operation between ourselves, the fire and rescue and ambulance services, Bedfordshire police, the National Air Service, and our colleagues at National Rail and East Midlands railway. “I would really like to take this opportunity To thank all who responded for their absolutely Incredible work in tragic and challenging circumstances. They were outstanding. “I also want to thank local people who showed immense kindness to those stranded on trains and to the casualties.” Lucy D'Orsi, chief constable of British Transport Police, said: “Over 80 people were treated at hospital last night. As of this morning 28 remain in hospital and nine are in a critical condition. “There will of course be a lot of questions about what exactly happened last night. I would really like to reassure everyone that specialist investigators from British Transport Police are working with colleagues at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to gather the facts and determine what has happened. “They are extremely experienced and I would ask that we all refrain from speculation.” Paul Gates, strategic commander for the East of England Ambulance Service, said 11 people suffered very serious injuries, a further 32 sustained serious injuries and another 56 suffered minor injuries. "Those with less serious injuries were treated on scene or conveyed to hospital as required," he told reporters. In total, 64 patients were taken to hospital by ambulance crews. Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “Our thoughts and wishes are with all of those affected by this tragic incident, particularly with the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who lost his life. “We also send our thanks to the first responders who acted so quickly, including the nursing staff, some of whom came in whilst off duty to care for the injured. “They no doubt worked under very challenging circumstances to care for all those affected.” Ellie Burrows, regional managing director for Network Rail East, has said the recovery operation will be "complex". The focus is now on supporting those affected and working with the relevant authorities as the investigation into what happened continues. East Midlands Railway managing director Will Rogers has said the company is "deeply saddened" by the train crash. "This is a profoundly sad day for the railway community," he told reporters, adding EMR is fully supporting the investigation efforts. British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi is speaking to journalists. She offered her "deepest condolences" to the family of the driver who was killed in the crash. Twenty-eight people remain in hospital, with nine in critical condition, she said. A former senior officer with the East of England Ambulance Service has described the incident as "very unusual". Gary Sanderson told Sky News the last major train incident he attended was the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002, in which seven people were killed. He said the first crew on the scene carries out a rapid assessment and relays key information to the control room, helping determine whether a major incident should be declared. Passenger Teresa Itabor has said she felt a "massive bang" when the two trains collided. "I didn't know what was going on. My head hit the seat in front of me," the Northamptonshire resident told the BBC, explaining she was on her way to London to celebrate her birthday at the time. "I opened my eyes and that's when I saw people on the floor with blood everywhere." - The full extent of passengers' injuries is still being assessed. - The condition of the driver of the second train is not yet known. - It has not yet been confirmed which train collided with the other. - The cause of the crash is under investigation. Network Rail has said it is "deeply saddened" by the death of train driver following the crash near Bedford. "Our teams are on site working closely with the emergency services and industry partners," Network Rail wrote on X. "We want to thank the emergency services and the wider railway family for their professionalism and swift response. In the meantime, we ask passengers to please check before they travel." The Fire Brigades Union has said it is "saddened" by the death of a train driver following yesterday’s train crash near Bedford. The union wrote on X: "Our thoughts are with their family, friends, colleagues and all those affected by this tragic event and members across the RMT union, the TSSA union and the Aslef union." North Northamptonshire Council has said it is "deeply saddened" by the train crash near Bedford yesterday. "Our thoughts are with the family of the train driver who has lost their life and all those injured and affected by the incident," the council said in a post on social media. The King is "greatly saddened" by the train crash near Bedford and is being kept regularly updated on developments, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. "His thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident," the spokesperson added. The head of Unison has paid tribute to the train driver killed and dozens injured. "I am deeply saddened by the train crash in Bedford yesterday," said Andrea Egan. "My thoughts are with the families of the train driver who has lost their life and all those who have been injured. Thank you to the emergency services and staff responding." Police remained near the scene of a fatal train crash near Bedford last night. The Ampthill Road is closed from the Interchange Retail Park roundabout to Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick. A British Transport Police officer was standing by the road closure sign on the roundabout exit, to divert drivers. A Rail Accidents Investigation Branch van and a Deutsche Bahn vehicle have been allowed to drive on to the closed road. Simon Bentley and his wife were travelling from Kettering to London on one of the trains that crashed. He told the BBC he felt the train "brake really hard", which he said seemed "odd". He said a cabin door was smashed and objects were "everywhere, all flying around". Simon praised the response of the emergency services, describing it as "absolutely astounding". "I think [we're] actually just really relieved that we're both still here. We're very lucky and obviously very, very sad about what's happened to the driver," he added. The train driver who sadly died in the collision on Friday was on the 4.40pm Corby train to St Pancras, the general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef has told. Dave Calfe told Radio 4's Today programme that the entire railway family will be "feeling the sadness and sorrow" of the loss of the driver's life. He added: "The most important thing for us is that we learn the outcomes from incidents like this and prevent them from happening in the future."