‘All arms on deck’ at Bedford Hospital as some 50 folks left ‘damaged’ in prepare crash
This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated by our reporters as the breaking news story develops
Bedford Hospital has ordered “all hands on deck” as it awaits at least 50 patients who have been left “bloody” and injured after two trains smashed into each other in the area.
Multiple injuries, some expected to be serious, have been reported after two trains collided near Bedford, the Times reports. Staff from many departments at the hospital have been asked to come in to help following the horror incident. They were also warned that the extent of the injuries could be severe.
Videos from the scene taken by passengers show what appear to be two East Midlands Trains services that have collided. The shocking videos reveal injured passengers covered in blood on the train’s floor. All lines are blocked between Luton and Bedford.
The Telegraph reports that the incident happened at around 5.15pm, involving the East Midlands Railway 3.50pm service from Nottingham to St Pancras International and the 4.40pm Corby to St Pancras services. It’s believed the Corby train may have run into the back of the Nottingham train about 2½ miles south of Bedford station, according to train-tracking websites.
Pictures show the rear driver’s compartment of the front train mangled with the door hanging off. It’s unclear how many people have been injured or the extent of their injuries at the moment.
Dr Pete Knapp posted on Bluesky: “Train heading south from Bedford crashed at 17:12. Front of train ok, third carriage off rails. I’m ok with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good. Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning. No explosion, just stopped instantly.”
He later told BBC he was in the front carriage of one of the trains involved in the collision. He said: “I felt like I’d been in a bomb explosion.” He said there was “bloodied faces” and people who looked like they had “broken legs”. He added there was “smoke everywhere”.
Knapp said he “can’t sit down because my back hurts so much” but is otherwise “OK”. He added he “must have been very lucky” but “can’t imagine what the situation of the driver is”.
British Transport Police are responding to reports of a “collision involving two trains” in the Bedford area, the force said in a statement on social media. Five air ambulance helicopters are at the scene, according to flight tracking data reviewed by The Telegraph. More than 30 emergency vehicles are attending and a police helicopter is also circling above.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed on social media that it is at the scene of the incident on the railway just south of Bedford. “Please avoid the area,” a spokesperson says.
Travellers have been asked not to travel on EMR or Thameslink services today.
The East Midlands Railway train is believed to have stopped after a fault with a safety system called Automatic Warning System, which stops trains if they pass red signals. Insiders familiar with the situation told The Telegraph that the East Midlands train driver was on the phone to maintenance staff about the fault when the Luton Airport Express crashed into the back of it.
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