Train driver killed and eight in critical condition after Bedford rail crash investigation continues
Eight people remain in a critical condition in hospital after a train collision near Bedford that killed a driver and left dozens injured, British Transport Police (BTP) said on Monday.
The number of patients in a critical condition has fallen from nine to eight, while a total of 53 people remain in hospital following the crash on Friday. More than 100 passengers were injured when one train struck the rear of another on the same line just south of the Elstow interchange in Bedfordshire.
The driver of one of the services, 60-year-old Shaun Burton, died at the scene. He has been named by police, with unions and officials paying tribute to him over the weekend.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said recovery work at the site remains ongoing, with damaged carriages and train sections still being removed as investigators work to clear the line.
“Work continues this week to remove the damaged trains and carriages and allow the railway to reopen,” he said, adding that the investigation is being treated as a priority and is being carried out alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
BTP said officers are working to establish the full circumstances of how the collision happened. Early reports indicate the crash involved two East Midlands Railway services travelling on routes between the East Midlands and London St Pancras.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after the collision on Friday evening. Air ambulances and rescue teams were deployed, with injured passengers taken to hospitals across the region.
According to ambulance services, 11 people suffered very serious injuries, while dozens more sustained serious or minor harm.
Passengers described scenes of confusion and impact inside the carriages, with one traveller saying there was no warning before the collision, followed by smoke and people on the floor.
East Midlands Railway services to and from London St Pancras were suspended overnight after the crash.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was deeply saddened by the incident and confirmed that police had declared a major incident, with investigators on site.
The collision is being examined as one of the most serious rail accidents in the UK in recent years, with investigators focusing on why one train was stationary and the other failed to stop before impact.