Fatal train collision near Bedford prompts major incident response
Two passenger trains collided on the line south of Bedford , about 90km north of London, at around 6:45pm on June 19. One person was killed and a number of others were injured; Bedford hospital was warned to prepare for as many as 50 casualties.
The 16:40 East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras collided with the 15:50 service from Nottingham. British Transport Police declared a major incident, and fire, police and ambulance crews from Bedfordshire responded. Services through St Pancras were suspended for the rest of the evening.
The cause has not been established. Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned” and Health Secretary James Murray said he was being kept updated. A formal investigation by rail safety regulators would normally follow an incident of this scale, and disruption on the Midland Main Line is likely to continue while the line is cleared and examined.