Bedford Train Crash - Driver Killed, 100 People Hurt
Corby service hit a Nottingham train from behind. 9 in critical condition. BTP and RAIB investigating.
On Friday around 17:15, south of Bedford, two East Midlands Railway trains bound for London St Pancras collided. A driver died. Latest figures: 100 people needed medical care, 28 remain in hospital, 9 in critical condition.
How it happened
- 15:50 departure from Nottingham
- 16:40 departure from Corby
British Transport Police say the Corby service struck the rear of the stationary Nottingham train at Elstow, near the A421/A6 junction. At least one carriage derailed.
The victim was an EMR driver. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said he was a former union rep and called the news “devastating.”
East of England Ambulance Service breakdown:
- 11 very serious injuries
- 32 serious
- 57 minor
Witnesses
Pete Knapp, 40, in the front carriage:
I got up - chairs everywhere. It felt like an explosion. Bloodied faces, broken legs, smoke, screaming.
Brett Byatt - only 3-4 people unhurt in his carriage:
Everyone else had heavy bleeding, couldn’t stand, couldn’t move their neck. I saw a woman with a broken leg.
Teresa Itabor was heading to London for her birthday. After Bedford station there was a loud bang - her head hit the seat in front.
Keir Starmer sent condolences to the driver’s family and wished the injured a recovery.
Investigation
British Transport Police, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, and Network Rail are investigating. No cause has been announced yet. Passenger Byatt is already asking in the media why the second train was not warned about the stop ahead.
No answer yet. The probe has just begun.