A driver was killed and at least 89 passengers were injured in a horrific collision between two passenger trains in the Bedford area of Britain on Friday afternoon. British police declared an emergency following the crash involving two ‘East Midlands Railway’ trains bound for London St Pancras; the BBC reported the incident online. Ambulance services stated that among the injured, 11 are in critical condition and 22 sustained serious injuries.
According to eyewitnesses, the collision—accompanied by a deafening crash—overturned seats inside the trains and created a gruesome scene filled with smoke and blood; the impact resembled a bomb blast. The deceased driver was a former representative of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT). In a statement, the union’s General Secretary, Eddie Dempsey, expressed that the entire union is deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of their former colleague and train driver.
Following the accident, all train services on the St Pancras route have been suspended, and severe schedule disruptions are anticipated on the line throughout Saturday. Britain’s Transport Minister Heidi Alexander expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and promised a high-level investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
