Bedford train crash passenger ‘angry’ after horror collision: ‘Why did that train driver lose his life?’Bedford train crash passenger ‘angry’ after horror collision: ‘Why did that train driver lose his life?’
Alex Croft21 June 2026 11:27
In pictures: Immediate aftermath of the Bedford train crash
King Charles paid tribute to the train driver who passed away (Reuters)
Nine people remain in a critical condition (Reuters)
100 people were injured in the crash (Reuters)
Alex Croft21 June 2026 10:52
Bedford train crash: Everything we know about the collision that killed a driver and injured 89
A train crash in Bedfordshire has left one dead and dozens more injured after two services collided during rush hour.
The fatal incident took place on Friday when the 4:40pm departure from Corby collided into the back of the 3:50pm from Nottingham. Both services were headed to London St Pancras.
As of Saturday lunchtime, 28 remain in hospital with nine in a critical condition, British Transport Police chief constable Lucy D’Orsi said. Some 100 people were hurt in total.
King Charles and Sir Keir Starmer have offered their condolences.
Alex Croft21 June 2026 10:19
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.”
Alex Croft21 June 2026 09:47
Passengers recall people ‘bleeding profusely’ with severe injuries
Brett Byatt, 40, a passenger on one of the trains, told BBC Radio 4 that everyone on his carriage 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.”
“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.
“This morning, it feels surreal, and I think I’ve moved into the stage of anger now. I’m feeling pretty angry”, he added.
Alex Croft21 June 2026 09:15
Investigation expected to look at human error and signal failures as cause of crash
An ongoing probe into what caused the Bedford train crash is likely looking into signal failures and the possibility of human error, an expert has said.
Authorities, led by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, will be looking at data from the black boxes in the trains, along with CCTV and available signalling information.
“I think it comes down to human error or a system fault, or some kind of interaction from the environment outside … It’s very hard to tell [what happened],” railway systems consultant Peter Hicks told The Times.
“They [the investigators] will get downloads from the systems on the trains to say what inputs the drivers gave, and outputs from the signalling system. And they will be the ones who can say what the root cause and what the contributory causes were.”
Alex Croft21 June 2026 08:15
Watch: Bedford train crash passenger captures collision aftermath on videoBedford train crash passenger captures collision aftermath on video
Alex Croft21 June 2026 07:50
In pictures: Scene of the fatal crash near Bedford
One of the trains appeared to be the Luton Airport Express (PA)
Around 100 people were injured in the crash (Sky News)
Journalists and photographers were allowed to enter a nearby field on Saturday afternoon (AFP/Getty)
Alex Croft21 June 2026 07:39
Please refrain from speculation, say transport police
British Transport Police have urged people to please “refrain from speculation” on what caused the Bedford train crash, as a probe continues.
“There will be a lot of questions as to what exactly happened on (Friday) night, chief constable Lucy D’Orsi said.
“I would like to reassure everyone that specialist investigators from British Transport Police are working with colleagues at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to gather the facts and determine what has happened.
“They are extremely experienced and I would ask that we all refrain from speculation.”
Alex Croft21 June 2026 07:27
Rail Accident Investigation Branch to give update in coming days
In a statement on X, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it was working with the British Transport Police to determine what happened before the crash.
In a statement on X, the RAIB said: “RAIB inspectors continue to gather evidence at the site of yesterday’s collision between two trains near Elstow.
“RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident.
“We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more.”
Alex Ross21 June 2026 07:01