The response to the Bedford train crash – declared a major incident – continues with British Transport Police and the Rail Accident Investigations Branch leading a probe
Specialist investigators are working to establish the cause of the train crash which killed one driver and left 99 people injured, including 32 “seriously” and 11 “very seriously”.
Some 28 people remain in hospital, including nine in “critical condition”, just over 24 hours after the disaster happened when the two London bound trains collided on the midland mainline, just south of Bedford shortly after 5pm on Friday.
Experts from British Transport Police (BTP) and the Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB) are now examining both trains and the railway in a bid to prove exactly how and why the collision happened, including whether a signalling issue was to blame or if it was down to human error.
In a statement, an RAIB spokesperson said: “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.”
Asked about the cause of the crash, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “It is too early to speculate and that’s why it’s so important that the inspectors from the rail accident investigation branch were there very quickly. They will do a thorough piece of work to establish the cause of this incident and to make sure that those lessons are learned, so that no one has to go through an experience like this again when they’re using the railways in the UK.”
The train driver, who died of his injuries at the scene of the crash, has not yet been named. He was piloting the Corby train, the general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef confirmed. The 4.40pm service, heading towards Luton Airport, rear-ended the 3.50pm train from Nottingham heading south after the Nottingham train stopped at a signal.
It led to emergency services declaring a major incident, which saw more than 20 ambulances and six air ambulances being called to the scene, as well as more than 70 firefighters, the National Air Service and workers from National Rail and East Midlands railway.
Lucy D’Orsi, chief constable of British Transport Police, said: “There will of course be a lot of questions about what exactly happened. I would really 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.”
Ms D’Orsi added: “I would really like to take this opportunity to thank all who responded for their absolutely Incredible work in tragic and challenging circumstances. They were outstanding. I also want to thank local people who showed immense kindness to those stranded on trains and to the casualties.”
The chief constable spoke out as horrifying testimony began to emerge from passengers, including construction site manager Mareks Grabovskis, who had a miracle escape after boarding the Corby train after working in the area on Friday. He said: “I was about to board the first carriage, but there were too many people because the train only had four carriages, so at the last second I moved to the last carriage.”
Mr Grabovskis described how he went flying when the collision happened before passing out and waking up on the floor where he saw people “covered in blood” and screaming. He said: “It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life, and I know how fortunate I am to be here today.
Mr Grabovskis described the onboard ticket inspector as a “hero”, adding: “I could see he was in pain himself, but he was telling someone on the radio to close the lines, and checking if everyone else was OK.”
Aleister Adamson told how passengers were screaming as they were “thrown around” by the impact of the crash and admitted: “I thought I was going to die”. Mr Adamson, who was on the 3.50pm Nottingham train, said it felt like there had been multiple impacts and described hearing a “bang and another bang”. He said he assumed the Corby train had “hit our rear most carriage creating a chain effect”.
Brett Byatt, who works as a teacher in Bedford, was travelling to London St Pancras on the second carriage, where he said he saw multiple passengers covered in blood. Recalling the horror, he said: “It was like a boom smash, and everyone that was sat down when flying into one another, and it was just like shrieks and groans of pain and shock. “There was a woman in front of me that had completely snapped her leg and there was a woman behind her. They were sort of on top of each other. She couldn’t move because of her back.”
Paul Gates, Deputy Chief Paramedic at the East of England Ambulance Service, yesterday told how ambulance staff, specialist Hazardous Area Rescue Teams, transported 64 people to six different hospitals following the crash. He said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all emergency service colleagues for their swift, coordinated and professional response.”
A portion of Network Rail’s East Midlands route remained closed yesterday while emergency services and specialist teams assessed the damage to trains and infrastructure.
The route’s director Mark Budden said in a statement the body is “deeply saddened” that one of its colleagues had died as a result of the collision, adding that its thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues as well as with all those who have been affected. He says Network Rail’s teams are working closely with industry partners, response teams and the emergency services to ensure all of the victims receive the care and support they need as an “absolute priority”. He added: “We know passengers will want to understand when services can resume. We will provide updates as soon as we have a clearer understanding of the recovery work required and when the railway can safely reopen.”
King Charles was said to be “greatly saddened” by the crash. A spokesperson said: “His Majesty is greatly saddened by the rail crash in Bedford yesterday evening and is being kept regularly updated on developments. His thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to the CEO of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust following the collision. In a post on X, he said: “I expressed my gratitude to the air ambulance crews, the emergency services who responded under extremely difficult circumstances, as well as the NHS staff taking care of the injured.” The prime minister added that his thoughts are with all those affected by the “devastating incident”.
Ellie Burrows, Regional Managing Director Network Rail East, said: “This is a profoundly sad day for everyone affected by this incident, and for the wider railway family. Our thoughts are with all those involved, particularly the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who tragically lost his life.”
It is understood investigators will initially continue to examine the wreckage on site before the carriages will be taken away in order to clear the line and for further analysis. Ms Burrows said: “This will be a complex recovery operation.
“We have significant railway resources deployed on the ground and teams from across the industry are working closely together to support the response, recover the railway safely and minimise disruption wherever possible. The focus now is on supporting those affected and working with the relevant authorities as they investigate what happened.
“We will provide every assistance we can to the RAIB, British Transport Police and other agencies involved.”