2026 Bedford train collision
The Class 810 unit involved in the collision[1]
The Class 360 unit involved in the collision[1]
Map
Approximate location of collision (map data)
Details
Date 19 June 2026 (2026-06-19)
17:12 BST
Location Elstow, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Line Midland Main Line
Operator East Midlands Railway
Incident type Rear-end collision
Cause Under investigation
Statistics
Trains 2
Vehicles
  • Class 810 (810015)[2]
  • Class 360 (360115)[2]
Deaths 1
Injured More than 100 (including 9 critical, 2 very serious, 32 serious, 57 minor)[1][3]

The 2026 Bedford train collision occurred on 19 June 2026 at 17:12 BST when two East Midlands Railway trains collided on the Midland Main Line south of Elstow, near Bedford in the United Kingdom. One of the train drivers was killed[4] while 100 people were injured.

Collision

Two passenger trains, both operated by East Midlands Railway, collided at Elstow, near Bedford, at 17:12 BST on 19 June 2026, resulting in the death of a train driver and injuries to 100 people.[1][5] The first train to arrive at the location was the 15:50 Nottingham to London St Pancras service, operated by a Class 810 Aurora unit. The second train was the 16:40 Corby to St Pancras service, formed of a Class 360 Desiro unit.[1][6]

The Nottingham service had stopped on the up fast line,[7] where it was struck from the rear by the Corby service.[8] One of the carriages of the Nottingham train was derailed by the collision.[9]

Casualties

The driver of the Corby train was pronounced dead at the scene.[10] More than 100 people were injured.[3] Eleven people sustained very serious injuries, 32 were seriously injured, and 57 received minor injuries, some of whom were treated at the scene.[1] Six air ambulances attended the incident, along with more than 20 road ambulances and the National Police Air Service.[7][11] More than 70 firefighters and officers attended the scene.[12] By 22 June, 53 people remained in hospital, with eight in a critical condition.[13]

Aftermath

Train services between London St Pancras and Nottingham, Derby and Leicester were disrupted, and passengers were advised not to travel on those routes for the remainder of the day.[14] Thameslink suspended services between Bedford and Luton.[5]

There were planned engineering works taking place on the weekends of 20–21 June and 27–28 June – between Bedford and London St Pancras, meaning the line was to be closed anyway. However, due to the collision, the line was suspended between Luton and Bedford from 19 June, until 28 June at the earliest.[5][15] In addition, 600 metres (660 yd) of track requires replacing.[16]

Recovery of the carriages of the trains involved started on 21 June. A temporary access road was built to allow the access of a road crane. Andy Bowes-Roden, editor of Modern Railways magazine, described the recovery operation as "complex". Ellie Burrows, Network Rail Eastern regional managing director described the operation as "complex and challenging".[15]

Investigation

The British Transport Police attended the scene of the collision alongside Bedfordshire Police. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road sent inspectors to the site.[6][7] A full RAIB investigation into the accident is underway.[1] An interim report is expected to be published by 26 June.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Spivey, Matt, ed. (20 June 2026). "Nine people in critical condition among 100 injured in fatal Bedford train crash". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  2. ^ a b Mewawalla, Tara (20 June 2026). Spivey, Matt (ed.). "The events leading up to the crash". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2026. service from Corby is 360 115, while the train from Nottingham is the 810 015
  3. ^ a b "Update on casualty numbers following major incident – Bedford". British Transport Police. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  4. ^ "Tributes to driver killed in Bedford train crash". BBC News. BBC. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  5. ^ a b c Sales, Dan (19 June 2026). "What we know about Bedford train crash that left driver dead and hurt dozens". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  6. ^ a b Ho, Vivian; Badshah, Nadeem (19 June 2026). "Train driver dies and 89 people injured after two trains collide near Bedford". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  7. ^ a b c Stubbings, David (20 June 2026). "Nine remain in critical condition after Bedford collision". Rail. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  8. ^ Corfield, Gareth (19 June 2026). "Two trains collide near Bedford". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  9. ^ Devlin, Laura (20 June 2026). "Nine people in critical condition after train crash". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  10. ^ "EMR Press statement: Sunday 21 June, 2026". East Midlands Railway (Press release). 21 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  11. ^ "Statement on Bedford Train Crash". East of England Ambulance service (Press release). 19 June 2026. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  12. ^ Lavelle, Daniel (20 June 2026). "Nine people in critical condition after Bedford train crash kills driver". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  13. ^ a b Symonds, Tom; Chaudhari, Shivani (22 June 2026). "Eight in critical condition after train crash". BBC News Online. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  14. ^ Hunt, Dan; Watson, Greig (19 June 2026). "Disruption warning after person dies in train crash". BBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  15. ^ a b Ahmed, Shariqua; Browing, Simon (21 June 2026). "Bedford train crash disruption to last a week". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  16. ^ Pope, Alex; McMenemy, Rachael (22 June 2026). "Injured ticket inspector 'a hero' in fatal Bedford train crash". BBC News. Retrieved 22 June 2026.