Nine Hospitalised in Critical Condition After Bedford Train Collision
A collision between two East Midlands Railway services near Bedford left one driver dead, 100 injured and nine people in critical condition, prompting a major incident response and an ongoing investigation.
Two East Midlands Railway trains bound for London St Pancras collided just south of Elstow, Bedford, at about 17:15 BST on Friday, killing the driver and injuring 100 passengers. Twenty-eight people remain in hospital, nine of them in critical condition, while 57 suffered minor injuries, according to the East of England Ambulance Service.
Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi of British Transport Police said the force has declared a major incident and that specialist investigators are working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to determine the cause. She urged the public not to speculate and expressed condolences to the driver’s family and colleagues.
Emergency services deployed multiple air-ambulances, road vehicles and around 70 firefighters. East Midlands Railway suspended services to and from London St Pancras for the weekend, rerouting trains to terminate at Bedford and offering ticket refunds for alternative travel.
EMR managing director Will Rogers said the company was on the scene with Network Rail and emergency crews to support those affected. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pledged a thorough investigation to learn lessons and prevent future incidents, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as deeply concerning and offered thoughts to the victims’ families.
