Police have said 28 people remain in hospital, nine of them in a critical condition, after two trains collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon; one train driver has died
As specialist investigators continue to work to establish the cause of a train crash which killed one driver and left 100 people injured, many other questions about the disaster remain unanswered.
The crash, which killed a train driver, involved two East Midlands Railway services on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday. Twenty eight people remain in hospital, nine of them in a critical condition, after two trains collided near Bedford, police have said.
The collision involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services, with one smashing into the back of the other. However, a probe continues to find out what led to this.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained works are carried out to understand the circumstance of the crash so that “lessons are learned”. Asked about the cause of the collision, she 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.”
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Work is ongoing to establish further information, in addition to the cause of the crash. Speaking at a press conference near the scene on Saturday, British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “His (the driver’s) family have been informed and our deepest condolences are with them, his friends, and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway.”
East Midlands Railway’s managing director Will Rogers said it was a “profoundly sad day for the railway community” and that the company was supporting the investigation into the incident. He said: “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with family, friends, and colleagues of our driver and everybody else who has been injured or affected by this tragic incident. Our priority is the welfare of everybody involved and we are here for customers and our colleagues.”
Further details about the tragic driver, including his name and age, have yet to have been disclosed to members of the press. The Mirror below outlines just some of the other information still unverified as details about the tragedy continue to unfold.
1. Why was the leading train stopped (or moving very slowly)?
Investigators are examining why the Nottingham-to-London service was stationary or nearly stationary on the main line when it was struck from behind. Early reports suggest there may have been a technical issue, but this has not been confirmed officially.
2. Why didn’t the following train stop?
Perhaps the biggest question is why the Corby-to-London service failed to avoid the train ahead. Modern British railways have multiple layers of protection designed to prevent exactly this type of collision. Investigators will look at whether;
- The driver received correct signal information.
- The driver had sufficient warning.
- The train’s braking systems functioned properly.
- Train protection systems intervened as intended.
3. Did the signalling system operate correctly?
The Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB) will also examine signalling records to determine;
- Whether signals correctly indicated that the track ahead was occupied.
- Whether any signalling fault occurred.
- Whether control centres had accurate information about train positions. Reports have highlighted signalling as a major area of scrutiny.
4. Did train protection systems fail?
Britain’s rail network uses automatic safety systems intended to stop trains from passing danger signals or approaching hazards too quickly. Investigators will want to know;
- Were these systems active?
- Did they detect the danger?
- If they did, why was a collision not prevented? The Guardian specifically noted that investigators will be examining why existing safety systems did not avert the crash.
5. Was there a problem with one of the trains?
One of the trains involved was a relatively new Aurora fleet train. Investigators will download data recorders (“black boxes”) and inspect;
- Braking performance.
- On-board computer logs.
- Communications equipment.
- Any technical faults before the collision.
6. What role did human factors play?
As in any major rail accident, investigators will examine;
- Driver actions and decision-making.
- Communications between drivers and signallers.
- Fatigue, workload, and training issues.
- Any emergency procedures that were in effect. At this stage, there is no public evidence pointing to driver error.
7. How severe was the impact and why were so many people injured?
The trains reportedly remained upright, which likely reduced casualties, but investigators will study;
- Collision speed.
- Vehicle crashworthiness.
- Interior fittings and seat performance.
- Whether injuries were worsened by carriage design or passenger movement.