Train crash between Bedford and Luton

[june35]

Hope everyone is okay but it looks serious. I wonder what caused it, you don’t hear of many train crashes these days.

Just read this on BBC news. It sadly sounds pretty serious with one dead and multiple injuries. Quite surprised there hasn't been more on Mumsnet. Important news stories like this used to feature heavily in chat.

We're fairly local and found out about it several hours ago. It appears that one train had left Bedford station on the way to St Pancras in London, and another train going in the same direction went into it from behind.

Bedford Hospital and The Luton & Dunstable Hospital are both appealing to the general public to avoid going to A&E if at all possible.

I was looking for a thread on this too. Feeling very sad for all those affected.

From what I understand, this sort of rear end collision should be vanishingly rare/ shouldn’t happen. I wonder what failures occurred.

This seems like such a basic failure - two trains on the same bit of track. I thought this wasn't even possible with modern signalling.

@JoanOgden We can't understand it either.

I was rather surprised by the guy who is doing the media rounds. He was in a carriage where people were injured. He was able to film on his way out and said on the TV report I saw that he felt that was important. Strange definition of important.

Deliberate? It looks awful and there must have been multiple failings for this to happen which makes me think it’s more likely to be deliberate?

Officials will want to watch any footage taken by members of the public as part of their investigation into what happened.

I agree, in this case I think the filming is kind of fair. Using it for social media clout perhaps less so.

Surely the fatality has to be the driver of the train whose cab is crushed?

It’s very odd that this has happened. Maybe heat affected the signals? Must be some sort of freak incident. It’s ghastly for all those involved.

Addenbrooke’s A&E has been closed to attend to the crash victims. A&E patients were moved to the GP clinic. Those not needing urgent care were being sent home. There were ambulances and air ambulances arriving constantly for around 2 hours.

What a bizarre things to suggest

The train driver has died. Have some respect.

Signal failure perhaps ?

trains should have seatbelts.

This

This would mean that you couldn't have anyone standing then. Lets face it unlikely to happen as there are never enough seats.

Are you saying that there should be no standing room on trains then? As tragic as this incident it, train crashes are incredibly rare in the UK. Would seatbelts reduce harm enough to warrant putting them in/reducing train capacity?

Do we know for certain yet it was the driver who died? I know it seems likely but he would presumably have been able to see the collision coming and leave the cab? Although saying that I wonder if perhaps the driver has had some sort of medical episode and that has been the cause of the crash

Thinking of everyone involved in this terrible incident…

This

What are dreadful incident. Not much to say other than it's not too far from us and my thoughts are with the passengers.

Yes its been confirmed now. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy8dy2pr8ymt

This and I don’t think seatbelts would have made any difference here anyway

Coincidentally I read this the other day. Could it be related to storms?

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2527673-space-storms-could-switch-train-signals-and-cause-serious-accidents/