One person has died and 89 others were injured after two passenger trains collided Friday evening in the Bedford area, north of London, according to emergency officials.
The East of England Ambulance Service said 11 people sustained very serious injuries, 22 were seriously hurt, and 56 had minor injuries. Authorities declared a major incident as emergency crews responded to the scene.
British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said officials were working to determine what happened. He said a “significant emergency service response” was underway and that more information would be provided when available.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident at about 6:45 p.m. local time. Police also closed nearby roads as part of the response. Images from the area showed emergency personnel at the scene and police stationed near Progress Park in Bedford, where families were expected to reunite with passengers.
East Midlands Railway said the collision involved two London-bound services. One was the 4:40 p.m. train from Corby, and the other was the 3:30 p.m. train from Nottingham. Both were travelling toward London St. Pancras. The company said it was working with Network Rail and emergency services.
Video shared on social media appeared to show a damaged Luton Airport Express train still upright on the tracks. People who seemed to be passengers were seen standing and sitting in a nearby field.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers said in a post on X that both passengers and on-board train staff had sustained serious injuries. The union said it was monitoring the situation.
Officials have not yet released details about the cause of the collision or the identity of the person who died. Rail services in the area were expected to face disruption while emergency crews, investigators and railway officials continued their work. Further updates are expected as authorities gather more information.