A train driver who was killed in a horror crash near Bedford has been named as Shaun Burton. The 60-year-old driver died instantly when his train was struck from behind by another train on the same line. The crash injured 100 people, with 11 seriously hurt and 57 suffering minor injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which was declared a major incident by the British Transport Police.
The driver of a train who was killed in a horror crash which injured 100 people has been named as 60-year-old Shaun Burton. One train smashed into the back of the other on the same line near Bedford just after 5pm on Friday.
The collision killed the train driver instantly and left nine people fighting for their lives in hospital. In a tribute, Mr Burton's grieving family said: 'We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident.
' Of the 100 victims, 11 people were very seriously injured, a further 32 were seriously hurt, and 57 others suffered minor injuries, the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said. It was the highest number of casualties of any rail disaster in the UK for 20 years. Both trains were heading for London. The first, a 3.50pm service from Nottingham to St Pancras stopped on the track.
Then the 4.40pm Corby train, which had stopped at Bedford station just two minutes prior, crashed into the back of it. Driver Shaun Burton, 60, died in the crash between the two trains in Bedford on Friday afternoon Specialist crane equipment has also arrived this morning at the crash site which will be used to lift the two trains off the tracks The crash was declared a major incident by the British Transport Police, as police and paramedics rushed to the scene.
Network Rail today described the crash as a 'tragic, isolated incident' and announced that rail services will be disrupted until June 28 while a 'complex recovery operation' begins to remove the damaged trains and carriages. The black box was recovered from the wreckage of the train this morning. Rail investigators removed it from the Luton Airport Express yesterday and placed an evidence sticker on the side.
The data recorder will help investigators piece together what happened before the service ploughed into the back end of a stationary passenger train at 5.15pm on Friday near Bedford. Specialist crane equipment also arrived this morning at the crash site, just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6, which will be used to lift the two trains off the tracks.
King Charles joined senior politicians in offering their condolences following Britain's worst train disaster in 20 years. The monarch said he was 'greatly saddened' and his 'thoughts and sympathies' were with the family of the deceased and those affected. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said on Saturday that its inspectors continued to gather evidence at the scene.
'RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident,' the agency said in a post on X. 'We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more. ' The front of the 4.40pm departure from Corby to London St Pancras was crushed when it crashed into the rear of the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, to the same destination.
The Corby train also had damage to the rear of the carriages which had been shunted into the ones in front. Mobile phone footage showed blood-covered victims on carriage floors and others staggering around a nearby field. One survivor likened the crash impact to 'a bomb explosion' and said most people in his carriage were 'bleeding profusely' or couldn't stand. Passenger Pete Knapp described people 'crying, screaming' and said some seemed to have major injuries.
Dr Knapp 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. ' The 40-year-old 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.
New photos taken today show the crash site in what is Britain's worst train disaster in 20 years Investigators begin their work in the aftermath of the train crash near Bedford on Friday evening Brett Byatt, another passenger on board, told the BBC he was among three or four people in his carriage who were not injured, adding: 'Everyone else had either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn't stand, or couldn't move their neck, or I saw a woman's snapped leg.
' Mr Byatt, a teacher, who lives in Bedford, said he was feeling 'angry' the morning after the collision. 'I don't know at whom, who specifically, but it's more about we've got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I'm just wondering… why wasn't that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this? ' he said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X that he had spoken with the chief executive of EEAS to offer his support and express his condolences to the victims and their families. The government has also promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. The Prime Minister also praised the emergency services for their bravery and professionalism in responding to the disaster.
He said: 'I want to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of the emergency services who responded to this terrible incident. Their actions undoubtedly saved lives and prevented further injury. I also want to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the driver who lost his life in this tragic accident. My thoughts are with them and all those affected by this disaster.
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