Injuries reported after two trains collide near Bedford

Two trains have collided in the Bedford area, authorities have said, with a number of people injured and police and other emergency services at the scene.The collision, which is reported to have caused injuries, has also caused major delays to the evening commute, with lines closed between Luton and Bedford, Thameslink said.The health secretary, James Murray, confirmed some of those on the trains had been injured and said he was being kept updated on the collision.East Midlands Railway posted on X at about 5.30pm that trains were unable to run between London St Pancras and Leicester “due to emergency service dealing with an incident”.The British Transport Police said its officers were responding to the collision south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6, as did Bedfordshire police and Bedfordshire fire and rescue.“We are asking for people to avoid the area,” Bedfordshire police said.Luton and Dunstable University Hospital said people should avoid coming to the emergency department unless they had a genuine emergency.Relatives and friends of the injured passengers have been asked not to travel to the scene.A Rail, Maritime and Transport union spokesperson said it is deeply concerned by reports of a train collision and the “serious injuries sustained by on-board train staff and passengers”.The two trains involved in the collision at Bedford South were the 4.40pm East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3.50pm Nottingham to London St Pancras service.East Midlands Railway services to and from London St Pancras have been suspended for the remainder of today, the train operator added.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, 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.”The East of England ambulance service said an air ambulance and the Hazardous Area Response Team is responding to the “major incident” south of Bedford.“We encourage people to avoid the area,” it added.Video posted on social media showed a damaged purple Luton Airport Express train and passengers standing along the tracks.Dr Pete Knapp, a passenger in the front carriage of one of the southbound trains involved, posted on Bluesky: “Train heading south from Bedford crashed at 17:12. Front of train ok, third carriage off rails.“I’m ok with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good. Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning.“No explosion, just stopped instantly.”Knapp, 40, added: “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.“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.”Knapp 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.Knapp said: “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m alright.”The rail accident investigation branch said a team of inspectors was at the scene of the collision near Elstow to start gathering evidence.Bedford and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin, said he was “very sorry” to hear of the incident and would share more information “soon”.One of the trains involved was the new East Midlands Railway Aurora, which came into service last year.A Network Rail spokesperson, said: “There is currently no Thameslink service between Luton and Bedford. If you’re planning a journey in this area, it is strongly advised that you delay your journey.“Services between Luton and London are significantly disrupted. We advise customers to seek alternative travel arrangements.”