A train driver was killed and about 100 people were injured when two East Midlands Railway services collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon.
The crash happened at approximately 17:15 BST. Police reported that 28 people remained in hospital as of the weekend, including nine in a critical condition. EMR services to and from London St Pancras were suspended over the weekend, and Network Rail warned that the line between Bedford and Luton is expected to remain closed until June 28.
Network Rail described the collision as a "tragic, isolated incident." East Midlands Railway said that from Monday, no EMR services will run between Bedford and London St Pancras. Trains that normally start and terminate at London St Pancras will instead start and terminate at Bedford. A limited rail replacement bus service will run between Luton and Bedford.
One train an hour will run between Sheffield and Bedford, Nottingham and Bedford, and Kettering and Corby. EMR Luton Airport Express services will not run while the recovery operation continues. Passengers travelling between Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras may use their tickets at no extra cost on Thameslink services.
Network Rail confirmed it will need to build a temporary access road and a concrete foundation to support a crane operation at the crash site. Andy Bowes-Roden, deputy editor of Modern Railways Magazine, said that "to lay the road and concrete pads will take a few days, even if they work quickly."
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail Eastern regional managing director, said: "This is a complex and challenging task, and our teams will be working tirelessly to reopen the railway so we can resume services between Bedford and London."
Network Rail's East Midlands route director, Mark Budden, said: "We know passengers will want to understand when services can resume. We will provide updates as soon as we have a clearer understanding of the recovery work required and when the railway can safely reopen."
The line is expected to reopen by June 28, though Network Rail said updates would be provided as recovery work progresses.
