DEVELOPING: Massive Emergency Response Underway After Two Passenger Trains Collide, Reports Of “Serious Injuries”

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Two passengers trains have collided in Southern England, prompting a major emergency response.

“Emergency services are dealing with an incident between London St Pancras and Leicester, East Midlands Railway has said,” Sky News wrote.

Watch below:

“We are deeply concerned by reports of a collision between two trains near Bedford,” said Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers’ union ASLEF.

“Our thoughts at this moment are with all the staff and passengers on board. Thank you to the emergency services for their ongoing work responding to this incident,” he added.

BBC has more:

Two passenger trains have collided near Bedford and a major emergency response is under way.

Rail operator Thameslink says all lines are blocked between Luton and Bedford due to a “problem under investigation”.

Passenger Peter Knapp tells BBC News he was in the front carriage of one of the trains: “I felt like I’d been in a bomb explosion”.

Firefighters and police say they are at the scene just south of Bedford.

Passengers who might be on other trains, that have come to a stop nearby, are told to remain onboard.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says she is “deeply concerned” about the reports and is grateful to emergency services at the scene.

Unconfirmed reports suggest upwards of 50 people were injured in the collision, with numerous fatalities feared.

“Two trains have collided near Bedford, reportedly resulting in serious injuries to those on board. The front train is believed to have stopped owing to a safety system fault. The second train then collided with the back of it,” The Telegraph reports.

Sky News shared aerial footage:

The Guardian shared further:

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.”

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.”

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