One dead, serious injuries reported after two trains collide north of London

One person has died and several others have sustained serious injuries following a collision between two trains north of London on Friday evening. British Transport Police confirmed the fatality and injuries, stating that officers responded to the incident near Bedford.

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We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.

The collision involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services. The trains were the 4:40 p.m. service from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3:50 p.m. service from Nottingham to London St Pancras. Aerial footage shows two damaged EMR trains, with at least one carriage off the tracks.

Emergency services, including air ambulances, were dispatched to the scene, located just south of the Elstow interchange. A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union indicated that both on-board staff and passengers suffered serious injuries.

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There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.

Passenger Pete Knapp described a chaotic scene, with people "crying, screaming" and appearing disoriented. He recounted being thrown forward during the impact, seeing smoke, and managing to exit the train through a gap in the doors. Knapp noted the suddenness of the crash, with no apparent warning or slowing down.

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My first thought was I needed to get out of the train just in case it was a terrorist explosion, I thought it was safer to get off the train.

Local hospitals, including Bedford hospital and Luton and Dunstable university hospital, have urged the public to avoid emergency departments unless facing genuine emergencies, as they manage the influx of casualties from the active incident. EMR has stated that services are unable to run to or from London St Pancras.

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Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning. No explosion, just stopped instantly.