Rail disruption to continue after fatal Bedfordshire train collision

Services between London and Bedford severely affected as investigation and recovery work continues

Rail passengers face at least a week of disruption following the fatal train collision near Bedford that claimed the life of a train driver and left around 100 people injured.

Network Rail has described the crash as a "tragic, isolated incident" and warned that the railway between Bedford and Luton is expected to remain closed until 28 June while investigations and recovery work continue.

The collision occurred at about 5.15pm on Friday when two East Midlands Railway (EMR) services travelling towards London St Pancras collided near Bedford. Train driver Shaun Burton, 60, died as a result of the crash.

Emergency services treated around 100 casualties, with police confirming that 28 people remain in hospital. Nine of those are reported to be in a critical condition.

East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services have been heavily disrupted since the incident. Thameslink has urged passengers to travel only if essential, while EMR services to and from London St Pancras were suspended over the weekend.

From Monday, no EMR services will operate between Bedford and London St Pancras. Trains that would normally start or terminate in London will instead begin and end their journeys at Bedford.

A reduced timetable will operate on EMR's Intercity and Connect routes, with one train per hour running between Sheffield and Bedford, Nottingham and Bedford, and Kettering and Corby. Regional services are expected to remain unaffected.

Rail replacement buses will operate between Bedford and Luton throughout the closure.