Nine people are in a critical condition after a collision between two London-bound trains near Bedford killed a train driver and left dozens of passengers injured.
More than 80 people were hurt after the 4:40pm from Corby struck the back of the 3:50pm from Nottingham, prompting an outpouring of support from King Charles and Sir Keir Starmer among others.
Images from the scene on Saturday show the crumpled end of one train, which appears to be a Luton Airport Express carriage, planted into the back of another, as dozens of police officers and rail workers gather evidence.
Follow our live blog on the train crash here.
Some 28 people remained in hospital British Transport Police as of Saturday afternoon, chief constable Lucy D’Orsi said, adding that specialist investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.
Passengers and witnesses have described the devastating aftermath of the collision, with some fearing they had been targeted in a terrorist attack.
Brett Byatt, 40, told BBC Radio 4 that everyone on his carriage had “either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn’t stand, or couldn’t move their neck, or I saw a woman’s snapped leg.”
“The people in first class ended up with stomach and rib injuries, because they went into the tables they have in first class, and EMR (East Midlands Railway) trains, the way that they’re structured with seats, was probably the worst way it could have been structured for a train crash.
“This morning, it feels surreal, and I think I’ve moved into the stage of anger now. I’m feeling pretty angry”, he added.
Dr Pete Knapp, a passenger on the train, described being flung into the seat in front and hearing people crying and screaming, some suffering broken legs.
“My first thought was I needed to get out of the train just in case it was a terrorist explosion, I thought it was safer to get off the train,” he said, adding that the passengers were “picked up and shaken like dice”.
Paul Gates, deputy chief paramedic at the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “Eleven people sustained very serious injuries, and a further 32 serious injuries. A further 56 others also suffered minor injuries.”
Paramedics took 54 people to six hospitals, while those with less serious injuries were treated at the scene, Mr Gates said.
Police remained near the scene on Saturday afternoon, as the Rail Accident Investigation Branch lead an investigation into the cause of the crash, with the assistance of National Rail, British Transport Police and East Midlands Railway.
Travel expert Simon Calder reported on Saturday that the trains crashed as a result of a technical fault on the rail lines.
The train in front, which was running late on its way south to London, had come to a halt “because of a problem with the automatic warning system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead”, he told Sky News.
While the driver was travelling to sort this out, the 4:40pm from Corby was on the same southbound line and collided with the stationary train. “The pictures we are seeing are just shocking for the train to have struck with such force that we had a derailment is really worrying,” Mr Calder added.
Speaking to the BBC, rail journalist Tony Miles questioned whether “the signals [were] showing red and the train went past them or were the signals showing that the line was clear and, if so, how were they able to know when the train in front was stopped?”
He said the investigators would “already know” what happened die to airline-style black box recorders on the trains.
King Charles said he was “greatly saddened” by the incident 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,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.
In a statement on X, Sir Keir Starmer added: “Hugely concerning reports of a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford.
“First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured.
“I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident.”
