Driver dead, 89 injured after trains collide north of London
Updated . First published
A train driver has been killed and 89 people injured after two trains collided north of London.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene south of the town of Bedfordshire, in England’s east, on the Bedford line connecting central London to central England after receiving reports at about 5.15pm on Friday (Saturday morning AEST).
One person has been killed and several others are hurt after the two trains collided. Supplied
The East of England Ambulance Service reported that 11 suffered severe injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 had minor injuries.
General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, Eddie Dempsey, confirmed the only fatality was a train driver.
The Times reported the Bedford Hospital was told to expect as many as 50 patients following the crash.
Peter Knapp, who was in the rear of one of the trains, told the BBC it felt like he was in a “bomb explosion”.
Knapp described seeing bloody faces, broken legs and “smoke everywhere”.
“People were crying, screaming. People were so scared and confused,” he said.
“I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak.”
Bedfordshire Police as well as local fire and rescue staff and paramedics lined a nearby street, responding to the crash.
Images posted to social media showed multiple victims with bandages around their heads and two damaged trains that remain on the tracks.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said a major incident has been declared by British Transport Police and the emergency response is ingoing.
“We’re working at pace to establish exactly what’s happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to,” he said.
People onboard the train likened the collision to a "bomb explosion". Jamie Lashmar
“Officers from British Transport Police and Bedfordshire Police are on scene with colleagues from the local authority to assist any members of the public concerned about loved ones.”
East Midlands Railway said in a statement it had cancelled all trains to and from London’s St. Pancras station for the rest of the day and has not confirmed if they will resume on Saturday.
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