A TRAIN driver was killed and dozens of others were seriously injured when two passenger trains collided near Bedford.
The crash involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services, when one smashed into the back of the other on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday.
A passenger on board one of the trains reported being “flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke”.
A train driver was killed and 33 other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, British Transport Police said.
A further 56 people sustained minor injuries.
Network Rail, which manages Britain’s rail infrastructure, said its “absolute priority” was ensuring “everyone receives the care and support they need”.
Most carriages of the two southbound trains remained on the tracks but at least one derailed.
The two trains involved were operating the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both heading to London St Pancras.
Passenger Pete Knapp described people “crying, screaming” and said some seemed to have major injuries.
Dr Knapp, 40, 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.
“I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”
Dr Knapp 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.
He said: “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m all right.”
He said he had not felt the train slow down before the crash but other passengers told him they had.
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”.
Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney said: "Deeply concerned by the train crash in Bedford and hope for the recovery of all involved. Grateful thanks to the emergency services."
Deeply concerned by the train crash in Bedford and hope for the recovery of all involved. Grateful thanks to the emergency services.
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) June 19, 2026
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.
People were asked to avoid the scene.
Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital both asked people not to attend their emergency departments “unless they have a genuine medical emergency”.
EMR trains between Bedford and London St Pancras have been suspended until at least Monday.
Online train trackers show the rolling stock involved in the crash were a class 360 and class 810. The front of the former hit the rear of the latter.
EMR began rolling out class 810s in December last year, and class 360s are at least 20 years old.
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), said: “We are devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died as a result of (Friday’s) crash between Luton and Bedford.
“The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the Aslef trade union at this awful time.”
Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “Our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash near Bedford (on Friday) and with the passengers who were injured in the accident.
“We want to thank the emergency services who responded so quickly to help those on board.”
Joanne Maguire, ScotRail managing director, said: “We were saddened to learn of yesterday’s incident involving two East Midlands Railway passenger trains near Bedford.
“Our thoughts are with everyone involved, and their families, friends and our colleagues at East Midlands.
“We know the emergency services and railway staff are doing all they can to help anyone involved in the incident in what is still an ongoing and developing situation.
“The safety of passengers on the railway is always the highest priority for our industry, and we are ready to offer any support we can to our colleagues at East Midlands.”
A team of Rail Accident Investigation Branch inspectors went to the site to gather evidence.
The crash follows a collision between two trains in mid-Wales in October 2024 in which one passenger died and four other people were seriously hurt.
That was Britain’s first fatal crash involving multiple trains for more than a quarter of a century.
