Train Collision Near Bedford Kills Driver, Injures 11

Two London-bound trains collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon, killing one driver and seriously injuring 11 people. British Transport Police said the crash happened late Friday on the same track and involved trains operated by East Midlands Railway. The location is about 90 kilometers north of London.

In total, 33 people were taken to hospital and another 56 received treatment for injuries at the scene, police said. Officials pronounced the driver dead at the site. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said it was too early to speculate on the cause. She added that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine how the collision occurred and to prevent similar incidents.

A passenger on one train told the BBC the train had stopped when it was hit from behind. He said people in his carriage were injured and he saw others walking away with facial wounds. Another passenger told BBC radio the next morning that the event still felt surreal and that he had begun to feel anger about what happened. Train collisions remain relatively rare in the United Kingdom.