A train driver is dead and 89 people have been injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford, England, on Friday afternoon. The crash happened between two East Midlands Railway services shortly after 17:00 BST.
British Transport Police confirmed the death shortly before 21:00 and declared a major incident. By Saturday morning, nine of the 28 people still in hospital were in critical condition, according to emergency services. The local ambulance service said 89 people had been injured to varying degrees.
The crash occurred just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6. A passenger on board told the BBC the collision happened at 17:12. Passengers said one of the trains had been stationary when the second struck it. Rail service Thameslink reported lines between Luton and Bedford had been blocked from around 17:30.
One passenger described the force of the impact. Dr. Peter Knapp told BBC News: "I felt like I'd been in a bomb explosion."
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers confirmed that one of the train drivers had died. General secretary Eddie Dempsey said: "The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the Aslef trade union at this awful time."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said reports of the collision were "hugely concerning," and that his thoughts were with the family of the person who died and with those seriously injured.
The crash immediately disrupted rail travel across a wide area. East Midlands Railway suspended services to and from London St Pancras over the weekend. Trains from Sheffield, Lincoln and Derby would now begin or end their journeys at Bedford. The operator advised travelers that tickets already purchased could be used at no extra cost on other operators.
Network Rail's East Midlands route director Mark Budden addressed the timeline for resumption. "We know passengers will want to understand when services can resume," he said. "We will provide updates as soon as we have a clearer understanding of the recovery work required and when the railway can safely reopen."
Luton Airport said it was aware of the incident and urged air travelers to check transport information before heading out.
Separately, two freight trains collided on a railway bridge in Munich, Germany, overnight, according to ABC News. Two wagons fell about 5 meters from the bridge onto the street below. One person was killed. Munich police closed the street beneath the bridge and asked drivers to avoid the area. The German news agency dpa reported the derailed wagons were not carrying cargo and there was no threat to public safety. The cause of the German crash was not immediately known.
