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A horrific head-on collision between two high-speed passenger trains on Friday evening near Bedford, located in the northern area of the British capital London, created chaos all around. In this tragic train accident, a train driver died on the spot, while 89 passengers were seriously injured. According to officials, the condition of 11 of the injured remains very critical. The collision was so strong that many coaches of both the trains derailed and turned into debris. As soon as information about the incident was received, the air ambulance and British expert rescue team immediately reached the spot and started relief work on war footing.
Both trains were going to London St Pancras, several coaches derailed
This dreadful train accident happened between Bedford and Luton at around 5:15 pm British time. Both the trains that were involved in the accident were heading south towards London’s famous St Pancras station. According to emergency health officials, a total of 89 people have been injured in the accident, out of which 11 people are fighting for their lives in the ICU. Apart from this, 22 passengers have suffered serious injuries and 56 others have been discharged after first aid.
Eyewitnesses described the scene of devastation: chairs scattered, faces stained with blood and legs broken.
Recalling the hair-raising moments after the accident, Dr. Pete Knapp, a passenger on board the train, said that suddenly without any warning there was a strong shock and we all fell on the front seat. Within no time, smoke spread everywhere, people were crying and screaming for help. Dr. Knapp compared this horrifying scene to a big bomb blast and said, “When I regained consciousness, chairs were scattered everywhere. I felt as if I had become a victim of a terrorist bomb blast. People’s faces were stained with blood and the legs of many passengers were broken. Being thin, I somehow managed to get out through the gap between the doors.”
Another female passenger, Shola Mene, tearfully told the BBC that the loud bang sent people flying from their seats into the air. A co-passenger came flying through the air and hit my husband straight in the face, leaving him bleeding. There was only blood and screaming everywhere inside the train.
PM Keir Starmer expressed grief, RMT union paid tribute to the dead driver
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed deep sorrow over this horrific accident. He said in his official statement that my deepest sympathies are with the family of the deceased who lost their lives in this tragic accident, and the government is committed to providing better treatment to all those seriously injured.
Eddy Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), confirmed that the man who lost his life in the accident was a senior train driver and former RMT representative. Dave Calf, head of the train drivers union ‘Aslef’, also paid an emotional tribute to the deceased driver.
All services of East Midlands Railway suspended, investigation ordered
Rail operator East Midlands Railway, while sharing official information, said that the fatal collision involved its 4:40 pm train from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3:50 pm express train going to the same destination from Nottingham.
After the accident, the Railway Administration has taken strict action and has completely suspended all the main train services to and from London St Pancras till further orders. While clearing and repair work on the railway track is underway, the British Railways Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched a high-level investigation into the actual cause of the accident from the angle of technical failure or human error.
