“MYSTIFYING” is how one expert described the horror two- train crash outside Bedford that killed one of the drivers and left 100 people injured.
Urgent questions are now being asked as to how such a disaster – one of Britain’s most devastating rail crashes of last 20 years – occurred as one passenger service rear-ended another train.
Rail experts have been left ‘mystified’ after two trains collided yesterday afternoon Credit: X
The early picture of how the crash unfolded is starting to emerge – and rail crash investigators will be probing the “black box” on both services.
The disaster seemingly took just minutes to unfold as both services passed through Bedford while southbound, heading to London.
Bedford is the 144th busiest station in the UK – serving more than 700 trains per week.
The horrific chain of events began just after 5pm, according to tracking data analysed by railway expert Peter Hicks.
Investigators on the scene after the two trains collided outside Bedford Credit: Bav Media
Questions are being asked over how the fatal smash could have happened Credit: Getty
One passenger estimates 90 per cent of his carriage were injured in the crash Credit: AFP
Engineers remove what is believed to be the train’s ‘black box’ Credit: Bav Media
The Luton Airport Express service from Corby to London St Pancras moves onto the slow railway line and pulls into platform 1 at Bedford at 5.07pm.
And then two minutes later at 5.09pm the East Midlands Railway train from Nottingham to London St Pancras passes on the fast line through the station.
The Corby train then leaves the station at around 5.10pm – and switches back into the fast line.
Passengers reported feeling the Nottingham train then brake “really hard” before coming to a stop near Elstow.
It is unclear exactly why the train stopped – with some reports saying it had stopped at a signal.
But then, according to Hicks, the Corby train – now fatefully travelling on the same fast line on which the Nottingham train was sitting at a stand – smashes into the rear of the other service at 5.11pm.
The driver of the Luton Express Service – a Class 360 train capable of 110mph – was killed in the collision.
It has been reported that the emergency brake was applied – but it is unclear how fast the train was going before the smash.
The scene just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6 in Bedford Credit: PA
The Luton Airport Express smashed into the East Midlands Railways service Credit: EPA
In shocking videos commuters can be seen covered in blood or crying for help in scenes like a “bomb had gone off”.
Witnesses reported seeing people with broken limbs and “spitting up blood” as they staggered from the wreckage.
One passenger estimated at least 90 per cent of people in his carriage were seriously hurt.
At least nine people are still fighting for their lives among the 100 injured commuters.
Rail investigators and police now face the hideous task of piecing together exactly what happened.
And they will probe what failures or mistakes led to such a crash happening on Britain’s railways, which are considered some of the safest in the world – as well as being one of the oldest.
It is the worst such disaster to hit the UK since the Grayrigg derailment in February 2007.
Rail experts have been left baffled by the fatal collision – with some saying it should never have happened.
East Midlands Railway managing director Will Rogers speaks to the media after the crash Credit: PA
Officials work at the site of the crash Credit: Getty
Tony Miles, a rail journalist, told News: “The question has to be how has that train that’s in the rear got into contact with the train that it was following, and obviously it’s either gone past the signal that was telling it it should stop, or the signal was faulty, or the driver’s made a mistake in some way, or didn’t read the signal, or something.”
He added that although it was a relatively low-speed crash, “even if you’re going 40 miles an hour and you come to a halt in a few metres, you’ve got the energy of a 40-mile-an-hour body in you, and you’re going to move until you hit something, unfortunately.
“So, even relatively low-speed collisions can be dangerous for people that are on board.”
Miles asked: “Were the signals 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 added investigators will already know the answer to what happened yesterday afternoon due to a black box recorder installed on the train.
Simon Calder also said the train in front could have stopped “because of a problem with the automatic warning system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead.”
He added that: “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.”
Expert Phil Haigh said he has been left “mystified” by the crash.
Locals rushed to help stranded passengers after the crash Credit: Reuters
Experts have questioned what led to the crash Credit: Bav Media
He told The Telegraph that train safety systems are “usually really, really, really reliable”.
Trains will automatically brake if a driver goes past a red signal or doesn’t press a pedal which checks they are still awake – dubbed the “dead man’s pedal.”
Haigh, the former RAIL magazine editor, said: “I am mystified, really, as to how the [train] at the back got to where it got.
“Unless there was a fault with the signalling system, or unless the driver passed a red signal.”
Brett Byatt, a passenger on board, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was among three or four people in his carriage who were not injured, adding: “Everyone else 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.”
Mr Byatt, a teacher, who lives in Bedford, said he was now feeling “angry” the morning after the collision.
He said: “I don’t know at whom, who specifically, but it’s more about we’ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I’m just wondering… why wasn’t that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this?”
The crash happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6 Credit: PA
The railway inspectors will likely already know what happened one expert said Credit: LNP
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said its inspectors continued to gather evidence at the scene on Saturday.
“RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident,” a spokesperson for the agency said on X. “We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more.”
East Midlands Railway’s managing director Will Rogers said it was a “profoundly sad day for the railway community” and that the company was supporting the investigation into the incident.
He said “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with family, friends, and colleagues of our driver and everybody else who has been injured or affected by this tragic incident.
“Our priority is the welfare of everybody involved and we are here for customers and our colleagues. ”
He added: “We’re fully supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigation and our thoughts are firmly with the family and loved ones of our colleague and everybody injured or affected by this tragic incident.
“This is a profoundly sad day for the railway community.
“I’d like to thank everybody that has responded to this incident.”
King Charles has said he is “greatly saddened” by the collision Credit: Reuters
In some of the footage injured passengers can be heard crying out for help Credit: Reuters
has also praised the emergency services for their “swift response”.
In a statement on X he said: “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.”
has today said he is “greatly saddened” by the collision and sends “his thoughts and deepest sympathies” to the driver’s family.
Police and Network Rail crews remained at the scene on Saturday as reporters were allowed on to a field next to the railway line to get a closer view of the site.
Network Rail said on Saturday that part of the East Midlands route remained closed as the emergency response continued and teams assessed damage to the trains and infrastructure.
The company said it would provide updates when it had a clearer understanding of the recovery work required and when services can safely reopen, adding that passengers should check with their train operator for the latest travel advice.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said it was “too early to speculate” on the cause of the crash while vowing “a thorough investigation … to ensure that lessons are learnt”.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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