A driver has died and 100 people were injured, including 32 seriously, following a collision between two East Midlands Railway (EMR) passenger trains near Bedford on Friday afternoon. The incident, which occurred shortly after 5:00 PM BST, prompted a major incident declaration by the British Transport Police (BTP).

The crash took place just south of the Elstow interchange, between the A421 and A6 roads. Passengers reported that one of the trains was stationary when the second train collided with it. One passenger described the impact as feeling "like a bomb explosion."

As of Saturday morning, nine individuals remained in critical condition, with a total of 28 people still hospitalized. The East of England Ambulance Service updated the number of seriously injured to 32, and those with minor injuries to 57, bringing the overall total of injured to 100.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed deep concern over the collision, extending his thoughts to the family of the deceased and those who were seriously injured. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) confirmed the death of one of the train drivers, with General Secretary Eddie Dempsey offering condolences to the driver's family, friends, and colleagues.

The collision has significantly disrupted rail services. EMR has announced that its services to and from London St Pancras will be suspended throughout the weekend. Trains will either terminate or begin their journeys at Bedford, impacting travel for many.

Emergency services, including the BTP and the East of England Ambulance Service, were on the scene rapidly. The BTP stated they were responding to reports of a collision shortly before 6:45 PM BST. The exact cause of the collision is under investigation.

Rail operator Thameslink confirmed that the lines between Luton and Bedford were blocked from approximately 5:30 PM BST, indicating the immediate and widespread impact on the rail network following the incident.

Further details regarding the investigation into the cause of the crash and the full extent of the injuries are expected to be released as authorities continue their work.