Bedford Train Crash: Driver Dead, 89 Injured After EMR Collision
A train driver has died and 89 people sustained injuries after two East Midlands Railway passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is now investigating the crash, which involved a class 360 train striking the rear of a class 810 service on the same track shortly after 5pm.
What happened in the Bedford train collision?
Two southbound East Midlands Railway (EMR) services collided on the same track just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6. The 4.40pm departure from Corby struck the back of the 3.50pm service from Nottingham, both heading for London St Pancras. While most carriages remained on the tracks, at least one carriage derailed during the collision.
Casualties and emergency response
The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed the driver's death. Eleven people suffered very serious injuries and 22 others were seriously hurt, with the most critical patients transported to hospital. A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or upon arrival at the hospital. Air ambulance helicopters landed at the site, and a large convoy of emergency vehicles lined a nearby rural road.
Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, described harrowing scenes.