On Friday, a serious railway accident occurred in the UK, with two trains colliding. The British Transport Police confirmed in a statement on social media that they are responding to the “two trains colliding” incident in the Bedford area.
Rail operator Thameslink earlier stated that all lines between Luton and Bedford have been closed due to “ongoing investigation issues.”
Firefighters and police have arrived at the accident scene south of Bedford, urging the public to stay away from the area. Passengers on other trains nearby have been instructed to remain on board.
Videos captured by passengers on social media show the collision of two trains believed to belong to East Midlands Railway. The footage is disturbing, showing injured passengers lying in pools of blood on the train floor.
It is believed that the front train stopped due to a malfunction in the safety system, leading to the train behind colliding with its rear.
One passenger shared on social media that they had experienced a “sudden accident,” resulting in “bleeding legs and back injuries.” They also warned that “others are not doing well.”
Passenger Alex Knight, who was on the first train, told the BBC, “I was at the front of the intercity train. The train suddenly slowed and stopped. After stopping, the train behind us collided with our rear.”
The impact caused passengers to fall to the ground, with some sustaining injuries and bleeding.
Transport Minister Heidi Alexander stated in a release that she is closely monitoring the situation, thanking emergency responders on-site and swiftly collaborating with rail industry and local partners to support passengers.
The Times reported that Bedford Hospital is expected to admit at least 50 injured individuals. The hospital has issued a call to all staff to be prepared for potential casualties.
Thameslink reported that all lines between Luton and Bedford are closed starting from 17:30 BST.
Due to the ongoing incident, many train services for this evening are delayed and likely to be canceled.
A spokesperson for Thameslink strongly urged people to reconsider their travel plans for later today and arranged for alternative bus services.
“If you cannot postpone your journey, please be aware that your travel will be severely delayed, and you may need to use alternative routes to reach your destination,” they said.
East Midlands Railway stated that their services are also impacted by the incident, affecting train services between London St. Pancras and Leicester. It is anticipated that services for the remainder of the evening between these locations will not be possible.
The company advised passengers not to travel.