28 in hospital, nine in a critical condition, after train collision

Twenty eight people remain in hospital, nine of them in a critical condition, after two trains collided near Bedford, police have said.

The crash, which killed a train driver, involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services, one smashing into the back of the other on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference near the scene on Saturday, British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Tragically, the driver of one of the trains died in the collision.

“His family have been informed and our deepest condolences are with them, his friends, and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway.

“The driver’s family, as you would expect, are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time.

“Over 80 people were treated at hospital last night.

“As of this morning, 28 remain in hospital, and nine are in a critical condition.”

D’Orsi thanked emergency service teams and railway staff for their response to the incident, adding: “I also want to thank local people who showed immense kindness to those stranded on trains and to the casualties. ”

Paul Gates, strategic commander at the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “Tragically, as you just heard, one person sadly died at the same 11 people sustained very serious injuries, and a further 32 serious injuries.

“A further 56 others also suffered minor injuries – those with less serious injuries were treated on scene or conveyed to hospital as required.”

Andy Hopkinson, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue chief fire officer, said more than 70 fire officers had been involved in the response, adding that there had been no fire during the incident.

The two trains involved were the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both to London St Pancras.

East Midlands Railway’s managing director Will Rogers said it was a “profoundly sad day for the railway community” and that the company was supporting the investigation into the incident.

He said “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with family, friends, and colleagues of our driver and everybody else who has been injured or affected by this tragic incident.

“Our priority is the welfare of everybody involved and we are here for customers and our colleagues. ”

He added: “We’re fully supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigation and our thoughts are firmly with the family and loved ones of our colleague and everybody injured or affected by this tragic incident.

“This is a profoundly sad day for the railway community.

“I’d like to thank everybody that has responded to this incident.”

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Earlier on Saturday, Buckingham Palace said Britain’s King Charles was “greatly saddened” by the crash and that his “thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured of affected by such a tragic incident.”

Passenger Pete Knapp described people “crying, screaming” and said some seemed to have major injuries.

Knapp told the Press Association: “There 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.”

The 40-year-old said he saw people with “life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see straight”, while others like him were still able to walk.

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Brett Byatt, another passenger on board, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was among three or four people in his carriage who were not injured, adding: “Everyone else had either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn’t stand, or couldn’t move their neck, or I saw a woman’s snapped leg.”

Byatt, a teacher, who lives in Bedford, said he was now feeling “angry” the morning after the collision.

“I don’t know at whom, who specifically, but it’s more about we’ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I’m just wondering… why wasn’t that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this?” he said.

Prime minister Keir Starmer described the crash as “hugely concerning” and said he was “grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident”.

There was a huge emergency response to the crash, which happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.

It included multiple air ambulance helicopters and road vehicles.

Network Rail said on Saturday that part of the East Midlands route remained closed as the emergency response continued and teams assessed damage to the trains and infrastructure.

The company said it would provide updates when it had a clearer understanding of the recovery work required and when services can safely reopen, adding that passengers should check with their train operator for the latest travel advice.