Nine people remain in a critical condition following a train crash on Friday near Bedford, about 100 kilometres north of London, in which the driver of one of the services was killed. Two passenger trains bound for London collided at around 5:15pm local time (1615 GMT) on Friday. The driver of one of the trains died at the scene.
Update on Injuries and Hospitalisations
Providing an update on those injured in the crash on Saturday, British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi said more than 80 people had received hospital treatment on Friday night. "As of this morning, 28 remain in hospital, and nine are in a critical condition," she said. Investigators were working to establish what caused the accident, D'Orsi added.
Footage of the Crash Scene
A video posted on social media by one of the passengers on Friday showed what appeared to be the damaged front of one train entangled with the back of another, with the carriages remaining upright. The footage highlighted the severity of the collision.
Government and Royal Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as a "devastating incident" in a post on X. He said, "I just spoke with the CEO of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust following yesterday's train crash. I expressed my gratitude to the air ambulance crews, the emergency services who responded under extremely difficult circumstances, as well as the NHS staff taking care of…" King Charles' Buckingham Palace also issued a statement, saying: "His Majesty is greatly saddened by the rail crash in Bedford yesterday evening and is being kept regularly updated on developments. His thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident."
Investigation Underway
British Transport Police and other investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident. The incident has raised concerns about rail safety in the region. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
