Two trains collided about 60 miles north of London, British Transport Police announced Friday. The incident occurred around 5:15pm on the line south of Bedford, involving two East Midlands Railway trains.
A video posted by a passenger showed one train’s front entangled with another’s back, with carriages upright on tracks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed condolences for the deceased and those injured.
The East of England Ambulance Service deployed numerous crews, including over 20 ambulances and six air ambulances. One person died at the scene; 11 suffered serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and 56 had minor injuries.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy confirmed a significant emergency response was underway as authorities investigated the cause. Peter Knapp, a doctor on board one of the trains, described a sudden crash with one carriage off the rails, sustaining minor injuries.