Media statement: Bedford train crash – essential travel only as passengers warned to expect disruption for the majority of next week

Following an incident on Friday (19 June) involving a collision between two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains in the Bedford area, in which an EMR driver sadly died and many passengers were injured, the railway is expected to remain closed between Bedford and Luton for the rest of the week.

As a result, there will be no GTR services north of Luton and no EMR services south of Bedford, with a limited rail replacement bus service in operation between Luton and Bedford.

Journey planning apps and websites are being updated to reflect these changes and may take a few hours to do so. Customers are advised to check live travel updates before they travel.

For as long as the Midland Main Line is closed at Bedford, train operators are accepting tickets for EMR customers. For customers whose journey is affected, tickets will be accepted on any alternative route. If customers decide to travel on EMR once the line is reopened, their connecting ticket on other operators also will be valid on that other day too.

East Midlands Railways (EMR)

No EMR services will run between Bedford and London St Pancras. Trains that usually start and terminate at London St Pancras will start and terminate at Bedford instead. From Monday, EMR will operate a reduced service on our Intercity and Connect routes, although Regional services will remain unaffected.

EMR Intercity and Connect services will operate one train per hour in each direction:

• One train per hour between Sheffield and Bedford, calling at Chesterfield, Derby, Long Eaton, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering and Bedford.
• One train per hour between Nottingham and Bedford, calling at Beeston, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford.
• One train per hour between Corby and Kettering.

Rail Replacement buses will be provided in each direction as follows:

• One direct bus per hour between Kettering and Luton (departing on the hour).
• One bus per hour between Kettering and Luton Airport Parkway, calling at Wellingborough, Bedford and Luton (departing on the hour).

EMR Luton Airport Express services will not run whilst the recovery operation continues. Passengers travelling between Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras in either direction may use their ticket at no extra cost on Thameslink services. For passengers travelling between Luton Airport Parkway and stations to or from the North, Rail Replacement Buses will operate between Luton Airport Parkway and Luton/Bedford/Kettering. Connections are available at Bedford and Kettering for services towards Sheffield or Nottingham.

For the latest EMR travel information please visit https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/service-updates

Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR)

From Monday, north of London St Pancras, Thameslink will run a limited service as far as Luton only. Thameslink and Great Northern will have in place ticket acceptance for EMR customers.
People should travel only if absolutely necessary. There will be no trains between Bedford and Luton, and only limited rail replacement buses. Elsewhere, north of London St Pancras on Thameslink, there will be: 

• Four trains an hour to and from Luton during peak hours.
• Two trains an hour to and from Luton outside of peak hours.
• Eight trains an hour from London to St Albans during peak hours.
• Six trains an hour from London to St Albans outside of peak hours.

The following limited rail replacement buses will run from Monday:

• Bedford to Luton Airport Parkway and back, calling at Luton only (shuttle every 30 mins).
• Bedford to Luton and back, calling at Flitwick, Harlington and Leagrave (shuttle every 15 mins in the peak and every 30 mins in the off-peak). 

GTR will also have extra staff on hand at key stations along the route to help and support customers with their journeys.

For more information on Thameslink services, please visit https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/service-updates/service-updates

Recovery operation

A complex recovery operation has begun to remove the damaged trains and carriages from the railway before engineers assess any damage and complete necessary repairs. The Overhead Line Equipment – the electrical wires that provide power to the electric trains – must be removed while a temporary access road and concrete foundation is constructed to support the operation of a crane.

Two 110 tonne rail-mounted Kirow Cranes will then lift the trains and carriages from the site before a road-mounted crane moves them onto a low loader – a heavy-duty, specialised trailer designed to carry extremely heavy equipment – to be transported away by road. Following this, engineers will then assess the track and make any repairs before reinstating the overhead lines and completing final safety checks ahead of reopening the railway.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with the family, friends and colleagues of our driver who tragically lost their life. We are also thinking of those who were injured, their loved ones, and all colleagues and customers affected by this incident. I would also like to thank our teams on the ground and the emergency services again for all their efforts.”

 “We are working closely with Network Rail and Thameslink to support those involved and assist with the ongoing recovery. Whilst this complex operation is underway, we ask that customers only travel on EMR’s Intercity and Connect services if essential. Please check before you travel.”

 "As the recovery progresses, we will continue to provide updates and encourage customers to check our dedicated webpage for details. EMR will not be able to operate any rail services between Bedford and London St Pancras this week. Our Regional routes remain unaffected. We appreciate our customers' patience as we work with our industry partners to restore services.”

Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer for GTR which operates Thameslink, said: “It has been an incredibly difficult time for the whole railway family, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic incident, particularly the family, friends and colleagues of the person who has tragically died, and all those who have been injured.

"We recognise the impact this tragic incident will have on our customers' journeys in the days ahead, and we're working closely with East Midlands Railway and Network Rail to reopen the line as soon as it’s safe to do so. We're asking anyone planning to travel on the Midland Main Line on Monday to only make essential journeys while this work continues.

“For customers who do need to make journeys, we’re boosting the number of our colleagues at stations to help them, and customers should check before they travel and allow extra time. We're grateful for our customers' patience as we and our industry partners do everything we can to get services back to normal.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail Eastern regional managing director, said: “The past two days have been incredibly tough for everyone involved in this incident and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the friends, family and colleagues of the train driver who tragically lost their life as well as the passengers who have been impacted by this incident.

“Colleagues from across the rail industry are working together at pace to remove the trains and carriages from the railway and complete the repairs to the tracks. This is a complex and challenging task and our teams will be working tirelessly to reopen the railway so we can resume services between Bedford and London.

“While investigations are still at an early stage, current indications are that this was a tragic, isolated incident.  We are focused on the safe reopening of the railway and getting services running as quickly as possible.

“During this time, our message to passengers is clear – please expect disruption to services through this area for the majority of next week and only travel if absolutely necessary.”

ENDS