London
One person has been killed and a number of people injured in a collision between two passenger trains north of London, according to British Transport Police.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the collision south of the town of Bedford, about 56 miles (90km) from London, on Friday, with photos posted on social media showing victims with bandages around their heads.
The trains collided on lines connecting St Pancras station in central London to communities in central England. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue crews responded to the incident, which was reported at 6:45pm (17:45 GMT).
“A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services,” the police force said in an update late on Friday.
“We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died,” it added.
Earlier, an East Midlands Railway (EMR) spokesperson said, “The 16:40 EMR train from Corby to London St Pancras has been involved in a collision with 15:50 Nottingham at London St Pancras at Bedford South. We are currently on the scene and working with Network Rail to assist the emergency services.”
The spokesperson added that trains are unable to run in or out of London St Pancras for the remainder of the evening, and that customers are advised not to travel or to delay their journeys as much as possible, with warnings of significant delays.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent multiple resources, including an air ambulance, to the collision on the railway south of Bedford, and urged people to avoid the area.
Images of the aftermath showed two damaged trains that were still on the tracks. The Times of London newspaper reported that Bedford hospital staff had been alerted to possibly expect as many as 50 injured people.
