The Collision
Two passenger trains collided outside Bedford on Friday afternoon around 5:15 p.m., killing at least one person and injuring 89 others. Both East Midlands Railway trains were traveling south toward London St Pancras station when they struck each other approximately 56 miles north of England's capital. The impact threw passengers from their seats and filled train carriages with smoke, according to witness accounts.
The person killed was a railroad engineer from one of the involved trains. Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, confirmed this in a statement. "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," Dempsey wrote.
Scale of Injuries
The East of England Ambulance Service reported that of the 89 injured, 11 suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and 56 sustained minor injuries. More than 20 ground ambulances, six air ambulances, and specialized hazardous area response teams responded to the scene. Bedfordshire Police, local Fire and Rescue, and British Transport Police also deployed officers to the collision site.
Passenger Peter Knapp described seeing "bloodied faces" and people who appeared to have broken legs. "I felt like I'd been in a bomb explosion," Knapp told the BBC. Fellow passenger Shola Mene reported that the impact sent people flying from their seats, with one person striking her husband in the face, causing significant bleeding.
Official Response and Suspension
British Transport Police declared a major incident and launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. England's Rail Accident Investigation Branch deployed a team of inspectors to the site. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "deeply concerned" by the reports, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "hugely concerning."
All rail lines between Luton and Bedford were blocked following the collision. East Midlands Railway suspended all trains to and from London St Pancras for the remainder of the day, advising customers not to travel. The Thameslink operator confirmed on social media that the blockage was due to "a problem under investigation."
