A train driver has been killed and more than 100 passengers injured after two East Midlands Railway services collided just south of Bedford on Friday evening – a crash that Network Rail has called a “tragic, isolated incident” but which will paralyse the line for at least a week.
The collision happened shortly after 5pm near the Elstow interchange between the A421 and A6, when the 4.40pm service from Corby to London St Pancras struck the rear of the 3.50pm Nottingham-to-St Pancras train, which had stopped on the same line. Investigators are examining whether a faulty signal or a failure of the automatic warning system – which sounds an alarm if a train passes a red or yellow signal without braking – played a role. It remains unclear if the system malfunctioned.
“Train driver killed, 100 injured in Bedford crash; line closed until 28 June as ‘tragic, isolated incident’ investigated.”
Passenger Dr Pete Knapp, 40, described the moment of impact: “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, and people were so scared and confused.” He said he saw “a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs” and managed to squeeze out through a gap in the doors because he was “quite thin”.
The East of England Ambulance Service reported that 11 people suffered “very serious” injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 had minor injuries – though nine remained in critical condition on Saturday morning. Aerial footage showed at least one carriage derailed.
Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “Our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash near Bedford today and with the passengers who were injured in the accident.” The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers confirmed the driver was a former union representative; general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union was “devastated” by the loss.
The King is being kept regularly updated on developments, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.
Engineers are now racing to clear the wreckage. Network Rail’s managing director for the eastern region, Ellie Burrows, said a “complex and challenging task” lay ahead: workers must remove overhead electrical wires and build a temporary access road before two 110-tonne cranes can lift the damaged carriages onto trailers and haul them away by road. Only then can the track be inspected and repaired.
The line between Bedford and Luton will remain closed until at least 28 June, with no services north of Luton on the Thameslink route and no East Midlands Railway services south of Bedford. A limited rail replacement bus will run between Luton and Bedford, but passengers have been urged to “only travel if absolutely necessary”. A partial service will resume from London St Pancras to Luton from Monday.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said its inspectors were continuing to gather evidence at the scene and would conduct a “full, independent safety investigation”. British Transport Police are working alongside them. “We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more,” the agency said.
For now, the key question – why a train that had stopped on the same line was hit from behind – remains unanswered.