Bedford Train Crash: Rail boss reflects on ‘profoundly sad day for the railway community’
The death of a train driver in the collision between two trains near Bedford yesterday has been described as a “profoundly sad day for the railway community”.
East Midlands Railway Managing Director, Will Rogers, was giving a statement following the accident which happened at around 5.12pm on Friday just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6.
Speaking to the media this afternoon at the cordon in Manor Road/Ampthill Road, Mr Rogers confirmed that it had been the 16:40 train from Corby to St Pancras that had collided with the 15:50 Nottingham to St Pancras service just south of Bedford.
He said: “We are deeply saddened that our driver has tragically died and a number of other people have suffered injuries.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends and colleagues of our driver and everyone else who has been injured or affected by this tragic incident.
“Our priority is the welfare of everybody involved and we are here for customers and our colleagues.
“We are on scene with Network Rail and the emergency services to ensure those affected receive the care and support they need.
“We are fully supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigation and our thoughts are firmly with the family and loved ones of our colleague and everybody injured or affected by this tragic incident.
“This is a profoundly sad day for the railway community.”
Ellie Burrows, Regional Managing Director of Network Rail Eastern said her thoughts were with all those involved, particularly the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who had tragically lost their life.
She said: "I would like to thank the emergency services and colleagues who responded with professionalism and dedication, both last night and today.
"This will be a complex recovery operation. We have significant railway resources deployed on the ground and teams from across the industry who are working directly together to support the response, recover the railway safely and minimise disruption where possible.
“The focus is now on supporting those affected and working with the relevant authorities as they investigate what has happened. We will provide every assistance we can.”
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