World

One killed and several injured in train collision north of London, police say

By Reuters Reuters

Updated June 20, 2026 4:12 AM

Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS — Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS Dr Pete Knapp Reuters

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LONDON - A train driver was killed and dozens more injured in a collision between two commuter services about 60 miles (100 km) north of London on Friday afternoon.

East Midlands Railway, which operated both London-bound trains involved in the crash, confirmed in a statement on X on Saturday that the driver of one of the services had been killed.

A video posted on social media by one of the passengers showed what appeared to be the front of one train entangled with the back of another, with the carriages appearing to remain upright on the tracks.

The East of England Ambulance Service said that in addition to a person who died at the scene, 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 had minor injuries.

"My thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

The cause of the incident was not immediately known, and transport minister Heidi Alexander said an investigation was underway.

Peter Knapp, a doctor who said on social media site Bluesky he was on board one of the trains, described a "sudden crash" with one carriage off the rails and said he had sustained minor injuries.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; additional reporting by William James, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kate Holton, Edmund Klamann and Andrea Ricci)

Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS — Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS Dr Pete Knapp Reuters

People and emergency service workers gather near the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS — People and emergency service workers gather near the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS Dr Pete Knapp Reuters

Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer — Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer Stringer Reuters

Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS — Emergency service workers gather at the scene of a collision involving two trains near Bedford, Britain, June 19, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Dr Pete Knapp/via REUTERS Dr Pete Knapp Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 4:01 AM.