What we know so far about Bedford train crash

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. What we know so far about Bedford train crash11 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleDan SalesDr Peter KnappTwo passenger trains have collided in the Bedford area, leaving a number of passengers and crew hurt. Emergency crews are on the scene after the crash happened between two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services at 17. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "deeply concerned" by reports of the collision, while the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said passengers and staff had sustained "serious injuries".

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue crews are attending the site just south of Bedford and the service asked people to avoid the location while they worked at the scene. Updates on this storyWhen and where did the train crash happen? British Transport Police announced just before 18:45 BST it was responding to reports of a collision near Bedford.

The Details

Rail service Thameslink reported lines between Luton and Bedford had been blocked since around 17:30 BST. A passenger who was on board one of the trains, who spoke to the , said the collision happened at 17:12 BST. The collision happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6 and both trains are still on the track.

Family and friends of passengers have been told not to go the scene by police. What happened in the collision? It has been claimed one of the trains hit another that was either stationary or moving slowly in front of it on the same line.

Passenger Peter Knapp said others on his train saw one ahead of them before the crash. He told News: "I felt like I'd been in a bomb explosion. "Knapp described seeing "bloodied faces", people with what appeared to be broken legs, and "smoke everywhere".

What Experts Say

Another passenger told the that people flew out of their seats in the crash, including someone who hit her husband in the face. "There was a lot of blood. A lot of people had facial injuries," Shola Mene said.

The RMT union said it had received reports that passengers and onboard train staff have sustained what it described as "serious injuries". The Rail Accident Investigation branch said it was in Bedford trying to find out exactly what had happened. It said in a statement on X: "A team of RAIB inspectors is on site at the scene of a collision between two trains near Elstow, to start gathering evidence.

"Which train services were involved? East Midlands Railway has confirmed two of its trains were involved in the collision. A spokesperson said: "The 16:40 EMR train from Corby to London St Pancras has been involved in a collision with 15:50 Nottingham London St Pancras, at Bedford South.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.