STORY
Emergency services have been called to a collision involving two trains near Bedford, with injuries reported and major disruption on the Midland Main Line. British Transport Police, Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were responding to the incident, while passengers were told to avoid the area.
The crash led to all lines being blocked between Luton and Bedford, with Thameslink suspending services on that section and East Midlands Railway saying trains could not run between London St Pancras and Leicester while emergency services dealt with the incident. The Times reported that Bedford Hospital had been preparing for a significant number of casualties, while emergency services including air ambulances were sent to the scene.
Footage posted online appeared to show a damaged Luton Airport Express train and passengers standing beside the tracks, although the cause of the collision has not yet been confirmed. The incident happened during the evening peak and rail operators advised passengers to delay travel or check before starting their journeys while the emergency response continued.