Bedford train crash latest: Driver killed and more than 80 injured after horror crash during rush hour
East Midlands Railway and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are looking into the cause of the Bedford crash
By Alex Croft
Two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services suffered a fatal collision on Friday, with one smashing into the back of the other on the same line near Bedford, shortly after 5pm.
A train driver was killed and dozens of others were seriously injured when two passenger trains collided near Bedford.
East of England Ambulance Service has confirmed that 11 people suffered “very serious” injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and a further 56 people had minor injuries.
Air ambulance helicopters attended the scene after the collision just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.
All patients with the most serious injuries have all now been taken to hospital. A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or in hospital.
The two trains involved were operating the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both to London St Pancras.
40-year-old passenger Pete Knapp said: “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.”
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the crash was “hugely concerning” and that he is “grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident”.