Bedford train crash latest: Driver killed and more than 80 injured after horror crash during rush hour

Bedford train collision: Emergency services dealing with 'serious injuries'

A train driver died[1] and nearly 90 people were injured after two trains collided[2] south of Bedford [3]on Friday afternoon, with an investigation underway into the cause. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and East Midlands Railway (EMR) will on Saturday continue probing the crash, after one train collided into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm. Police remain near the scene and several roads in the area remain closed as the investigation takes place.

Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the RMT union, said the driver and former union rep was killed, but as of Saturday morning, the driver has not been named. EMR said overnight that it is "deeply saddened" about the death of its driver and injuries to dozens of passengers. A total of 33 people were taken to hospital while 56 sustained minor injuries.

Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, recalled: "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." Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as "hugely concerning" and said he is "grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident".

Trains crashed 'because of problem with automatic warning system', says Simon Calder

Travel expert and former Independent correspondent Simon Calder has said the trains crashed as a result of a technical fault on the rail lines.

The train in front, which was running late on its way south to London, had come to a halt "because of a problem with the automatic warning system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead", he told Cathy Newman on Sky News. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch says it is currently investigating the cause of the crash. While the driver was travelling to sort this out, the 16:40pm from Corby was on the same southbound line and collided with the stationary train.

"The pictures we are seeing are just shocking for the train to have struck with such force that we had a derailment is really worrying. "Of course, railways are in general extremely safe... but if you are involved in an accident where you were previously travelling quickly and suddenly come to a halt then that is, I'm so sorry to say, going to involve some serious injuries." Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:27

Witness says most people in his carriage could not stand or move their neck after crash

A passenger on one of the trains that collided said he thought 90 per cent of people on his carriage had serious injuries, could not stand or move their neck.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Brett Byatt said: "The people in first class ended up with stomach and rib injuries, because they went into the tables they have in first class, and EMR (East Midlands Railway) trains, the way that they're structured with seats, was probably the worst way it could have been structured for a train crash, in the sense that there's nothing... because they're, they face each other in the three by three and the two by three, and the seat... when people flew into one another, the seats that they were on, like, broke backwards into the people behind them." The teacher, who lives in Bedford and was unharmed in the crash, added: "I've said before that I'd probably say 90 per cent of the people on my carriage had injuries, I'd probably say from three to four of us were uninjured in a full carriage. "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."

89 people were injured in the crash (Reuters)

Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:13

Watch: Emergency workers on scene after two trains collide in Bedford area

Emergency Workers On Scene After Two Trains Collide In The Bedford Area

Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:49

Passenger feeling 'angry' morning after the crash

A passenger on board said he was feeling "angry" the morning after the crash.

Brett Byatt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yesterday I was pretty, like, shocked. "This morning, it feels surreal, and I think I've moved into the stage of anger now. I'm feeling pretty angry."

He added: "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?" Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:29

All lines from Bedford to London St Pancras closed due to pre-planned works

All East Midlands Railway lines will be closed on Saturday and Sunday due to pre-planned engineering work, the rail company has said. "If you are due to travel today or tomorrow, please be aware that due to pre-planned engineering work, all lines are closed between Bedford and London St Pancras," it said in a statement.

"Trains that usually start and terminate at London St Pancras will start and terminate at Bedford instead. EMR will be operating a planned, amended timetable as a result." Due to the crash on Friday there may be short-notice alterations to the engineering timetable, it added, advising passengers to check their journey on the National Rail website.

Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:10

Police remain on train crash scene near Bedford

Police remained near the scene of a fatal train crash near Bedford last night. The Ampthill Road is closed from the Interchange Retail Park roundabout to Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick. A British Transport Police officer was standing by the road closure sign on the roundabout exit, to divert drivers.

A Rail Accidents Investigation Branch van and a Deutsche Bahn vehicle have been allowed to drive on to the closed road.

A Police road block on Ampthill Road, Bedford South on Saturday, after two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains were involved in a collision around 5.15pm on Friday (PA)Investigations are underway into the cause of the crash (PA)

Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:00

East Midlands Railway confirms death of its employee

Overnight, East Midlands Railway published a statement confirming the death of one of its drivers. Will Rogers, managing director for EMR, said the company is "deeply saddened to confirm that this incident has resulted in the fatality of an EMR Driver and a number of injuries to passengers on board" He added: "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of our colleague who has died, and with all those affected by this tragic event."

The rail company is working with Network Rail and the emergency services to assist with the response and support those affected. After this, it will assist an investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Alex Croft20 June 2026 08:44

Locals provide snacks for dozens stuck on trains behind crash

Locals brought snacks for dozens of people stuck on a train behind the two trains that crashed on Friday.

Footage shows the passengers walking up the closed rail line after leaving the stationary train. "Thoughts are with everyone involved in the Bedford train collision today. I was on the train behind and stranded for hours," wrote on passenger on X.

"Huge thanks to my partner and neighbours, who brought water and snacks for passengers when we stopped outside my house. Humanity at its best. " Alex Croft20 June 2026 08:22

Recap: What happened on Friday?

If you're just waking up, here's everything we know about the Bedford train crash as of Saturday morning.

• Two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services suffered a fatal collision on Friday, with one smashing into the back of the other on the same line near Bedford, shortly after 5pm.
• A train driver was killed and dozens of others were seriously injured when two passenger trains collided near Bedford.
• East of England Ambulance Service has confirmed that 11 people suffered "very serious" injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and a further 56 people had minor injuries.
• Air ambulance helicopters attended the scene after the collision just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.
• All patients with the most serious injuries have all now been taken to hospital.

  A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or in hospital.

• The two trains involved were operating the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both to London St Pancras.
• 40-year-old passenger Pete Knapp said: "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."

• Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the crash was "hugely concerning" and that he is "grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident".

Alex Croft20 June 2026 07:28

In pictures: Police cordon off scene overnight

Police block a road that gives access into an area near the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain (Reuters)The train driver was killed in the crash (Reuters)More than 80 people were injured (Reuters)

Alex Croft20 June 2026 07:21

References

1. ^ train driver died (www.independent.co.uk)
2. ^ after two trains collided (www.independent.co.uk)
3. ^ Bedford (www.independent.co.uk)