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A major emergency response is underway after passenger trains collided near Bedford, as ITV News Anglia’s Emma Volney reports <\/p>\n
One person has been killed and 89 have been injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford.<\/p>\n
British Transport Police responded to a call about a collision between two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services at 5.15pm on Friday, stating that “a number of people have been injured, and one person has very sadly died”.<\/p>\n
The person killed in the crash was the driver of one of the trains, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers said in a statement. <\/p>\n
“The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the ASLEF trade union at this awful time,” Eddie Dempsey said. <\/p>\n
Of the wounded, 11 suffered \u201cvery serious\u201d injuries and 22 were seriously injured, East of England Ambulance Service said. <\/p>\n
A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or taken to hospital. <\/p>\n
Footage from the scene shortly after the collision, credit: Pete Knapp<\/p>\n
Hospitals near the collision posted messages Friday evening asking the public to only attend A&E for medical emergencies as they supported victims of the crash. <\/p>\n
“We’ve declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing,” Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy from the BTP said. <\/p>\n
“We’re working at pace to establish exactly what’s happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to.”<\/p>\n
There were 20 ambulances and six air ambulances sent to the scene in response to the crash.<\/p>\n
The two trains involved in the collision were the 4.40pm East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3.50pm Nottingham to London St Pancras service, the train operator said in a statement. <\/p>\n
The scene just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6 in Bedford South after two trains were involved in a collision. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
The incident happened on Friday evening, just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the family of the person who died, and with those who have been seriously injured on Friday. <\/p>\n
“I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident,” he added. <\/p>\n
Witnesses said one train crashed into the back of another. One told ITV News Anglia they heard a \u201cloud bang\u201d and claimed \u201cpassengers went flying”. <\/p>\n
The roadblock close to the scene. Credit: ITV Anglia<\/p>\n
Passenger Pete Knapp said: \u201cThere 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.”<\/p>\n
He said he saw people with \u201clife-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries\u201d as well as \u201cpeople with bandages, people who couldn\u2019t see straight\u201d, while others like him were still able to walk.<\/p>\n
There is currently no Thameslink service running between Luton and Bedford, and Network Rail has urged passengers to delay travelling. <\/p>\n
EMR trains are \u201cunable to run in or out of\u201d London St Pancras for the rest of the day, the service said.<\/p>\n
The closure has had a severe impact on trains departing from London’s St Pancras, with routes to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield all affected.<\/p>\n
Bedfordshire Police said emergency services are at the scene on a stretch of the railway just south of Bedford. <\/p>\n
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d by the reports. <\/p>\n
In a post on X, the transport secretary said: \u201cI\u2019m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.\u201d<\/p>\n