A train driver died<\/a> and nearly 90 people were injured after two trains collided<\/a> south of Bedford <\/a>on Friday afternoon, with an investigation underway into the cause. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Police remain near the scene and several roads in the area remain closed as the investigation takes place. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n EMR said overnight that it is \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d about the death of its driver and injuries to dozens of passengers. <\/p>\n A total of 33 people were taken to hospital while 56 sustained minor injuries. <\/p>\n Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, recalled: \u201cThere 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.\u201d <\/p>\n Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as \u201chugely concerning\u201d and said he is \u201cgrateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/a>King Charles ‘deeply saddened’ by Bedford rail crash<\/p>\n The King is \u201cgreatly saddened\u201d by the rail crash near Bedford on Friday evening, Buckingham Palace spokesperson has said. <\/p>\n King Charles is being kept regularly updated on developments and \u201chis thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident\u201d, they added. <\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:52<\/p>\n <\/a>Trains crashed ‘because of problem with automatic warning system’, says Simon Calder<\/p>\n Travel expert and former Independent correspondent Simon Calder has said the trains crashed as a result of a technical fault on the rail lines. <\/p>\n The train in front, which was running late on its way south to London, had come to a halt \u201cbecause of a problem with the automatic warning system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead\u201d, he told Cathy Newman on Sky News. <\/p>\n The Rail Accident Investigation Branch says it is currently investigating the cause of the crash. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThe pictures we are seeing are just shocking for the train to have struck with such force that we had a derailment is really worrying. <\/p>\n \u201cOf 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\u2019m so sorry to say, going to involve some serious injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:27<\/p>\n <\/a>Witness says most people in his carriage could not stand or move their neck after crash<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Speaking to BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme, Brett Byatt said: \u201cThe 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\u2019re structured with seats, was probably the worst way it could have been structured for a train crash, in the sense that there\u2019s nothing\u2026 because they\u2019re, they face each other in the three by three and the two by three, and the seat\u2026 when people flew into one another, the seats that they were on, like, broke backwards into the people behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n The teacher, who lives in Bedford and was unharmed in the crash, added: \u201cI\u2019ve said before that I\u2019d probably say 90 per cent of the people on my carriage had injuries, I\u2019d probably say from three to four of us were uninjured in a full carriage.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone else had either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn\u2019t stand, or couldn\u2019t move their neck, or I saw a woman\u2019s snapped leg.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:13<\/p>\n <\/a>Watch: Emergency workers on scene after two trains collide in Bedford areaEmergency Workers On Scene After Two Trains Collide In The Bedford Area<\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:49<\/p>\n <\/a>Passenger feeling ‘angry’ morning after the crash<\/p>\n A passenger on board said he was feeling \u201cangry\u201d the morning after the crash.<\/p>\n Brett Byatt told BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme: \u201cYesterday I was pretty, like, shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cThis morning, it feels surreal, and I think I\u2019ve moved into the stage of anger now. I\u2019m feeling pretty angry.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI don\u2019t know at whom, who specifically, but it\u2019s more about we\u2019ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I\u2019m just wondering\u2026 why wasn\u2019t that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this?\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:29<\/p>\n <\/a>All lines from Bedford to London St Pancras closed due to pre-planned works<\/p>\n All East Midlands Railway lines will be closed on Saturday and Sunday due to pre-planned engineering work, the rail company has said. <\/p>\n \u201cIf 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,\u201d it said in a statement. <\/p>\n \u201cTrains 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:10<\/p>\n <\/a>Police remain on train crash scene near Bedford<\/p>\n Police remained near the scene of a fatal train crash near Bedford last night.<\/p>\n The Ampthill Road is closed from the Interchange Retail Park roundabout to Manor Road in Kempston Hardwick.<\/p>\n A British Transport Police officer was standing by the road closure sign on the roundabout exit, to divert drivers.<\/p>\n A Rail Accidents Investigation Branch van and a Deutsche Bahn vehicle have been allowed to drive on to the closed road.<\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 09:00<\/p>\n <\/a>East Midlands Railway confirms death of its employee<\/p>\n Overnight, East Midlands Railway published a statement confirming the death of one of its drivers. <\/p>\n Will Rogers, managing director for EMR, said the company is \u201cdeeply saddened to confirm that this incident has resulted in the fatality of an EMR Driver and a number of injuries to passengers on board\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cOur thoughts are with the family and loved ones of our colleague who has died, and with all those affected by this tragic event.\u201d<\/p>\n The rail company is working with Network Rail and the emergency services to assist with the response and support those affected. <\/p>\n After this, it will assist an investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. <\/p>\n Alex Croft20 June 2026 08:44<\/p>\n![\"89](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-19T234326Z_1923324505_RC25XLABS8U6_RTRMADP_3_BRITAIN-CRASH.JPG\")
89 people were injured in the crash (Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01KVJ005CT36457WMMXTT0MMT0.jpg\")
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](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01KVJ0DA0VCA8NZETHE4J8CW1B.jpg\")
Investigations are underway into the cause of the crash (PA)<\/p>\n