One person was killed and dozens of others were injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford, north of London, on Friday, June 19, according to British emergency services.

The collision occurred in the late afternoon near Bedford, about 90 kilometers north of London. Both trains were operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR) and were traveling south toward London St Pancras station.

The East of England Ambulance Service said one person died at the scene. Eleven people suffered very serious injuries, while 22 others were seriously injured. Another 56 people sustained minor injuries, with some treated at the scene and others taken to hospitals.

Passengers described scenes of confusion and panic immediately after the crash. Pete Knapp, who was traveling in the front carriage of one of the trains, told the Press Association that he was thrown forward when the trains collided before seeing smoke and hearing passengers screaming.

Knapp said some passengers appeared to have serious injuries, including broken legs. He later posted photographs and video on social media, saying he had suffered injuries to his legs and back but was otherwise safe.

Another passenger, Teresa Itabor, told the BBC that she heard a powerful bang before her head struck the seat in front of her. When she opened her eyes, she said she saw injured passengers on the floor.

Emergency crews mounted a major response following the crash. The ambulance service said more than 20 ambulances and six air ambulances were sent to the scene. Patients with the most serious injuries were transported to hospitals for treatment.

Footage from the scene showed passengers walking along the railway tracks near the damaged trains, while some initially waited in a nearby field. Aerial images showed that the trains remained largely upright, although at least one carriage appeared to have left the rails.

East Midlands Railway confirmed that both trains were traveling southbound toward London St Pancras. One had begun its journey in Corby, while the other had originated in Nottingham.

The operator said its trains would be unable to operate to or from London St Pancras for the remainder of Friday evening because of the incident.

British Transport Police declared a major incident and said a multi-agency emergency response was underway. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch also sent inspectors to the scene to begin collecting evidence and investigating the circumstances of the collision.

Rail expert Tony Miles told Sky News that the collision appeared to have occurred at relatively low speed and that the visible damage to the trains seemed limited. However, he noted that even lower-speed train crashes can cause serious injuries to passengers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “hugely concerning” and expressed condolences to the family of the person who died. He also thanked emergency responders for their rapid response.

Fatal train accidents are relatively uncommon in Britain. Previous incidents include a 2023 collision at Aviemore in Scotland, in which several people were injured, and the 2020 derailment near Stonehaven, where three people were killed and six injured after heavy rain contributed to a landslip.

SOURCE: The Standard, June 20, 2026. Original reporting based on statements from UK emergency services, East Midlands Railway, British Transport Police and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.