RAIB issues interim report into the train crash near Elstow

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published an interim report on the ongoing investigation into the Collision between passenger trains near Elstow, Bedfordshire on 19 June 2026.

At around 17:13 on Friday 19 June 2026, train reporting number 1H46, the 16:40 passenger service from Corby to London St Pancras, collided with the rear of train reporting number 1B67, the 15:50 passenger service from Nottingham to London St Pancras. Train 1B67 was stationary when the accident occurred. Both trains were operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR).

The collision took place on Network Rail’s Midland Main Line approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Bedford station. The driver of train 1H46 suffered fatal injuries in the collision. Of the estimated 257 people on board the two trains, more than 160 were injured. Significant damage was caused to the trains, both of which derailed.

Train 1B67 was stationary beneath the gantry supporting signal WH152 when the accident occurred and had come to an unexpected stop following an automatic emergency brake application. As train 1B67 was occupying the track in the vicinity of signal WH152, the preceding signal, WH154, was displaying a red (danger) aspect to protect the train from other movements on that line.

Forward-facing CCTV (FFCCTV) footage from train 1H46 shows that, as it approached and passed signal WH154, the signal was correctly displaying a red aspect. Train 1H46 was travelling at approximately 58 mph (93 km/h) and accelerating when it passed this signal.

Having passed signal WH154, train 1H46 proceeded towards train 1B67, approaching it on a right-hand curve. Analysis of data downloaded from the on-train data recorders (OTDR, sometimes called ‘the black box’) fitted to train 1H46 shows that the driver first applied the brakes around 10 seconds before the collision, while the train was travelling at approximately 76 mph (122 km/h). OTDR data also indicates that the speed of the train had reduced to around 50 mph (80 km/h) at the point of collision.

RAIB investigations, like many others, start by examining the immediate events around an accident and then working outwards to determine why they occurred, and to find any underlying factors. That means that a report published at the early stages of an investigation may contain information about immediate events without necessarily providing an explanation as to why they occurred. The reasons why train 1H46 passed signal WH154 at danger continue to form part of the ongoing investigation.