Injuries reported after two trains collide near Bedford | Bedfordshire

Authorities said that two trains collided in the Bedford area, many people were injured, and police and other emergency services arrived at the scene.

Thameslink said the collision, which reportedly caused injuries, also caused major delays to evening commutes, with lines between Luton and Bedford closed.

Health Minister James Murray confirmed that some on board the trains were injured and said he had been informed about the collision.

East Midlands Railway reported on X at around 5.30pm that trains were unable to run between London St Pancras and Leicester “due to emergency services dealing with an incident”.

British Transport Police said its officers responded to the collision south of Elstow roundabout, between the A421 and the A6, as did Bedfordshire police and Bedfordshire fire and rescue teams.

Bedfordshire police said: “We would ask people to avoid the area.” in question.

Luton and Dunstable University Hospital said people should avoid coming to the emergency department unless it was a genuine emergency.

Relatives and friends of the injured passengers were asked not to go to the scene.

A spokesman for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said it was deeply concerned by reports of train collisions and “serious injuries to train staff and passengers”.

The two trains involved in the collision at Bedford South were the East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras at 4.40pm and the Nottingham to London St Pancras service at 3.50pm.

East Midlands rail services to and from London St Pancras have been suspended for the remainder of today, the train operator added.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander wrote about X: “I am deeply concerned when I hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.

“I am grateful to the emergency services who were at the scene and treated those affected.

“We are working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.”

The East of England ambulance service said its air ambulance and Hazardous Area Response Team responded to the “major incident” south of Bedford.

“We encourage people to stay away from the area,” the statement said.

Video posted on social media showed the damaged purple Luton Airport Express train and passengers standing along the tracks.

Dr. was a passenger in the front car of one of the southbound trains. Pete Knapp posted the following on Bluesky: “Southbound train from Bedford crashed at 5:12 p.m. Front of train OK, third car derailed.

“Leg blood and back blows are no problem for me. Others are not good. No sudden crashes, slowdowns or horn sounds. No warnings.

“No explosion, just stopped instantly.”

Knapp, 40, added: “One minute I was thrown into the front chair, then I saw smoke. “People were crying, people were screaming, people were very scared and confused.

“I stood up and saw a lot of people who couldn’t speak and whose legs were broken, then I managed to get out of the train and because I was quite weak I managed to get out through the gap in the doors.

“My first thought was that I had to get off the train in case of a terrorist attack. I thought it would be safer to get off the train.”

Knapp said he did not feel the train slowing down before the accident, but other passengers did.

He said he saw “life-threatening people, seriously injured people, slightly injured people” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see properly” while others like him could still walk.

Knapp said: “There’s blood all over my pants and my back hurts like hell, but I’m okay.”

The rail crash investigation branch said a team of investigators was at the scene of the crash near Elstow to begin collecting evidence.

Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin said he was “very sorry” to hear about the incident and would share more information “soon”.

One of the trains involved was the new East Midlands Railway Aurora, which entered service last year.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “There is currently no Thameslink service between Luton and Bedford. If you are planning a journey in this area you are strongly advised to postpone your journey.”

“Services between Luton and London have been significantly disrupted. We advise customers to seek alternative travel arrangements.”