Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef the train drivers' union has confirmed that the deceased is a driver of one of the trains.

Mr Calfe said: "Our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends of the driver who died in the crash near Bedford today and with the passengers who were injured in the accident."

"We want to thank the emergency services who responded so quickly, to help those on board, and are still at the scene."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The train crash near Bedford is deeply worrying and upsetting. The thoughts of the entire union are with everyone involved in this accident and their families. Tragically we now know that at least one person has died.

“Safety must always be the first priority on the railways and our senior reps and Unite officers will be fully involved in the investigation to understand how and why it happened and to ensure that such accidents never happen again.”

Passenger tells of seeing "faces bloodied, people unresponsive" after train crash.

Peter Knapp said: "I got up and saw a lot of smoke in the carriage, at that point I was a bit worried that it was a terrorist explosion.

"There were lots of people who had their faces bloodied, people unresponsive, elderly people on the floor, some people screaming, crying. They were saying they were confused and scared."

Bedfordshire Police states in an update: "Officers are continuing to respond to a collision between two trains on the line in Bedford, following reports around 5.15pm today (Friday). We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.

"A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from British Transport Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue, and the East of England Ambulance Service.

"The collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains. We are asking the public to please stay away from the scene to help reduce pressure on our emergency services.

"We understand that people will be concerned about loved ones however please stay at home and do not travel to the scene of the incident. We're in the process of setting up a dedicated phone line for relatives and we will update as soon as this is live."

Eleven people suffered “very serious” injuries and 22 were seriously injured in the train collision near Bedford, East of England Ambulance Service has said.

Patients with the most serious injuries have all now been taken from the scene to hospital.

A further 56 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene or taken to hospital.

The ambulance service said: “We quickly declared a major incident and put our emergency response plans into action.

“We sent a large number of resources to the scene, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist hazardous area response teams, and six air ambulances.”

They added: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response.”

Police vehicles are on Progress Park where it is understood people are travelling to collect their loved ones who were on the train.

A number of ambulances and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue vehicles drove up nearby Ampthill Road which has been closed off by officers at the junction with the A5141 and A5134.

A helicopter has been circling overhead.

One local, who did not want to be named, said the news of the crash was a shock, telling the Press Association: “You don’t expect this in the UK.

Police at Progress Park in Bedford(Image: Jordan Reynolds/PA Wire)

In a statement, Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I’m shocked and concerned to hear that two East Midlands Railway Trains, one of which serves our region, have collided near Bedford this afternoon.

“My thoughts are with any impacted passengers and staff members aboard and I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the emergency services for their fast response.

“The Department for Transport is working with our emergency services, Network Rail and East Midlands Railway to ensure passengers and railway staff members are supported in the best way possible.

“Please avoid sharing unconfirmed reports until we hear officially from the emergency services or one of the agencies who run these services.”

An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash(Image: Bav Media)

A statement has been issued by Sir Keir Starmer where he said his thoughts were with the family of the person who has lost their life and those injured.

He stated: "Hugely concerning reports of a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford.

"First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured. I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident."

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: "We've declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing.

"We're working at pace to establish exactly what's happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to.

"Officers from British Transport Police and Bedfordshire Police are on scene with colleagues from the local authority to assist any members of the public concerned about loved ones.'"

The British Transport Police has confirmed a person has died in the train crash.

It stated: "Officers are continuing to respond to a collision between two trains on the line in Bedford, following reports around 5.15pm today (19 June).

"We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died. A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services.

"The collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains."

A passenger has shared footage of water and food being brought to people stranded on the trains following the crash.

He wrote on X: "Thoughts are with everyone involved in the Bedford train collision today. I was on the train behind and stranded for hours.

"Huge thanks to my partner and neighbours, who brought water and snacks for passengers when we stopped outside my house. Humanity at its best."

The train crash outside Bedford appears to have been a “relatively slow speed collision”, a rail expert has said.

Tony Miles told Sky News the damage to the trains looked “fairly minimal”.

He said: “Obviously it’s a rear end collision, they were going in the same direction, so one of them, the rear one was going faster than the one it’s caught up with, for some reason. That’s not a complicated assumption.

An aerial view of the crash scene

“So, the question has to be how has that train that’s in the rear got into contact with the train that it was following, and obviously it’s either gone past the signal that was telling it it should stop, or the signal was faulty, or the driver’s made a mistake in some way, or didn’t read the signal, or something.

“Over the years, all of those different scenarios have happened, and it’s now a question of finding out why did one train catch up with the train that was in front of it, that was obviously going more slowly. Whether it was stopped. I don’t know, but I say from the collision damage it looked like a relatively low speed collision.

A train is believed to have driven into the back of the other(Image: Bav Media)

“So either the train in the rear was already slowing down or they were both going fairly slowly, and something’s happened, but it’s not a high speed crash, certainly from the damage.”

He added: “Even if you’re going 40 miles an hour and you come to a halt in a few meters, you’ve got the energy of a 40-mile-an-hour body in you, and you’re going to move until you hit something, unfortunately. So, even relatively low speed collisions can be dangerous for people that are on board.”

The two trains were heading towards London St Pancras(Image: Sky News)

Travel expert Simon Calder says that a train ran into another which was stationary on the track due to a problem with the automatic warning system.

"The train in front was the late running 3.50pm train from Nottingham," Mr Calder told Sky News.

"It had come to a halt because of a problem with its automatic warning system which operates with train drivers - warns them if there is a red signal ahead.

"While the driver apparently was trying to sort out that, the 4.40pm which was travelling from Corby (...) was on the same southbound line and collided with the stationary train."

Emergency services at the scene following the crash(Image: Sky News)

Health Secretary James Murray said on X: "I am being kept updated on the collision of two trains between Luton and Bedford. A number of people have been injured and I thank first responders who are helping those affected.

"The @EastEnglandAmb is working with emergency services to support passengers who need further care."

A witness described people were “crying, screaming” and said some seemed to have major injuries following a train crash near Bedford.

Pete Knapp, 40, said: “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.

“I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”

He added: “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.”

He said he had not felt the train slow down before the crash, but other passengers told him they had. He said he saw people with “life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see straight”, while others like him were still able to walk.

He said: “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m alright.”

People waiting beside the track after the crash

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is urging people to avoid A&E departments unless a genuine emergency.

It states: "Our hospitals are currently supporting the active incident in relation to the recent train crash in Bedford.

"We ask the public to avoid attending our Emergency Departments unless they have a genuine medical emergency. Please use NHS services appropriately. Further updates will be provided when it is appropriate to do so."

Both trains were heading to London St Pancras when they were involved in the collision.

One train was the 4.40pm East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras and the other was the 3.50pm service from Nottingham to London St Pancras.

An image from the crash scene

The independent Rail Accident Investigation branch states that it is at the scene of the crash near Elstow.

It wrote on X: "A team of RAIB inspectors is on site at the scene of a collision between two trains near Elstow, to start gathering evidence."

"I was in the front carriage. I was in shock and still am. The road is closed with ambulances, fire and police are helping people," says passenger Dr Pete Knapp on social media.

And he also commented: "Others on the train say they saw another train ahead of us when we disembarked. Appears to have been a collision."

There are reports that one of the trains was stationary when it was hit from behind by the other train.

One person wrote on X: "I was on the front intercity, we slowed and stopped fairly suddenly. While stopped the connect train went into the back of us."

A flight map shows an Air Ambulance leaving the scene of the crash.

An Air Ambulance H135 has been tracked by Flightradar24.

East Midlands Railway says that there will be no more services from London St Pancras today due to the collision.

It stated: "East Midlands Railway services to and from London St Pancras are suspended for the remainder of service today, Friday 19 June 2026.

"EMR customers are advised not to attempt to travel on these routes today.

"Emergency services are dealing with an incident between Luton and Bedford, which is disrupting our trains on the London St Pancras/Nottingham/Sheffield and London St Pancras/Corby routes. Network Rail and the emergency services are on site actively responding to this incident."

People being treated by the ambulance service(Image: Dr Peter Knapp)

A Rail, Maritime and Transport union spokesperson said: "We are deeply concerned by reports of a train collision between Bedford and Luton and the serious injuries sustained by on-board train staff and passengers.

"The thoughts of the whole union are with those affected and we continue to monitor the situation."

Passengers waiting by the track following the collision

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says she is "deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision".

She wrote on X: "I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.

"I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected. We're working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers."

Bedfordshire Police is urging people worried for passengers on the trains "not to travel to the scene".

"British Transport Police have confirmed they are responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the Bedford area," stated Bedfordshire Police.

"We understand people are concerned and worried for relatives but we are advising the public not to travel to the scene and to await further updates from emergency services."

East of England Ambulance Service stated on X: "We have sent a number of resources, including air ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, to a major incident on the railway south of #Bedford.

"We encourage people to avoid the area. Further updates will be provided in due course. Please only call 999 in an emergency."

Scene after two trains collided

A passenger has told of a scene like a bomb had exploded on his train following the collision.

"When I got up, I saw all the chairs everywhere... it felt like I had been in a bomb explosion," he told the BBC.

"I saw people's blooded face, legs looked broken... some people spitting out blood."

British Transport Police says it is responding to reports of an incident involving two trains.

"We're responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the Bedford area. We'll share more information as soon as possible," stated the BTP on X.