One dead and dozens injured after passenger trains collide north of London
One person was killed and dozens injured on Friday evening after two passenger trains travelling toward London collided near Bedford, about 80 km north of the capital, triggering a major emergency response. Services to and from St Pancras were suspended and the U.K. Rail Accident Investigation Branch is leading the inquiry into what may be Britain's most serious rail incident since 2020.
The collision happened at about 18:45 local time near Sharnbrook tunnel, north of Bedford, between two East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services. East Anglia ambulance trust said 18 ambulances and a fire-and-rescue team were dispatched, with eight passengers in serious condition.
The U.K. Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said its inquiry will examine signalling, possible driver error and track-switching protocols. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh called the incident the most serious U.K. rail accident since the 2020 Stonehaven derailment and ordered an emergency safety review across all passenger services.
St Pancras-Sheffield mainline services have been suspended through next week, with East Midlands and Thameslink shifting passengers onto replacement coach links. Network Rail estimates disruption could affect 220,000 daily passengers; train-operator equities will be watched closely on the London Stock Exchange when trading resumes Monday.
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