Sunday, June 21, 2026 - A train driver has died and 89 other people were injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday evening, prompting a major emergency response and an investigation into one of the UK's worst rail accidents in recent years.
The collision occurred at about 5:15pm on the railway line
between Bedford and Luton after a Nottingham-to-London St Pancras service
reportedly stopped because of a safety fault and was subsequently struck from
behind by a Corby-to-London St Pancras train.
Emergency services declared a major incident as police,
firefighters, paramedics and multiple air ambulances rushed to the scene.
Authorities confirmed that one driver was killed in the crash, while dozens of
passengers sustained injuries. Eleven people were reported to have suffered
very serious injuries, with a total of 89 casualties treated. Passengers
described scenes of chaos and devastation inside the carriages following the
impact.
Brett Byatt, who was travelling on one of the trains, said:
"I'd probably say 90% of the people on my carriage had injuries. 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." He added that
there was a loud "boom" before passengers were thrown into one
another.
Another passenger, Teresa Itabor, who was travelling to London for her birthday, recalled: "We left Bedford station and there was a massive bang. I opened my eyes and that's when I saw people on the floor with blood everywhere." Pete Knapp described the aftermath as resembling "a bomb explosion", saying he saw passengers with bloodied faces, apparent broken limbs and smoke inside the carriage.
Student Qunnie Wu said many passengers were seriously hurt,
with some bleeding from their eyes, noses and mouths. "People were
screaming and crying. They were screaming for help," she said. Images and
video from the scene showed damaged train carriages, injured passengers
receiving treatment and emergency crews assisting those trapped or unable to
move.
The train drivers' union ASLEF confirmed that the driver who
died was operating the 4:40pm Corby service. General Secretary Dave Calfe said
the railway industry would be "feeling the sadness and sorrow" of the
driver's death. Investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances
surrounding the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that the Nottingham service
had stopped after developing a safety fault before it was struck by the
following train.
Rail operators have urged passengers to avoid travelling on
affected routes while recovery work and investigations continue. Authorities
have not yet released the identity of the deceased driver, while support is
being provided to injured passengers and their families.
0 Comments