Train driver dies and 89 injured in Bedford collision

A train driver died and 89 people were injured when two southbound East Midlands Railway trains collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon.

Eleven people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 had minor injuries, the East of England Ambulance Service said. The crash happened at about 17:15 BST just south of Elstow, near the A421 and A6 interchange.

The trains involved were the 16:40 service from Corby to London St Pancras and the 15:50 service from Nottingham to London St Pancras. The cause remains under investigation.

British Transport Police declared a major incident. Officers said the driver of one train was pronounced dead at the scene and his family had been informed.

Passenger Dr Peter Knapp, who was in the front carriage of one train, said the impact felt like a bomb explosion. He described chairs scattered, bloodied faces, broken legs and smoke. Another passenger, Shola Mene, said she heard a loud bang, saw people thrown from their seats and saw her husband struck in the face. Teresa Itabor, who boarded at Wellingborough, said her head hit the seat in front after the bang and she saw people on the floor covered in blood.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the union was devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep had died. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was deeply concerned and that it was too early to speculate on the cause. She said a thorough investigation would be carried out to establish what happened and to prevent a repeat.

An air ambulance attended the scene. Aerial images showed damaged carriages, most still on the tracks but at least one pushed off the rails.