Passengers and families affected by Friday’s fatal train collision near Bedford will continue to receive support as investigators work to establish exactly what happened, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has told Parliament.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (Monday), Ms Alexander said East Midlands Railway had put customer care and welfare support in place for passengers, while the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), British Transport Police and rail safety regulators continue their investigations.
She also reiterated that rail safety remains the highest priority and urged people to avoid speculation while investigators establish the facts.
The collision happened shortly after 5.15pm on Friday, 19 June, when two East Midlands Railway services collided near Elstow.
Train driver Shaun Burton, 60, died in the crash. More than 100 people have received hospital treatment, with British Transport Police confirming on Sunday that 53 people remained in hospital and eight were still in a critical condition.
- Read: Train driver killed in Bedford rail collision named as Shaun Burton
- Read: More than 100 treated after Bedford train crash as eight remain critical
Support available
Addressing MPs, Ms Alexander said those most affected by the collision would continue to receive support.
“Those most affected by this tragic incident will continue to receive the support they need,” she said.
“In addition to direct care provided by the emergency services, East Midlands Railway has a customer care and welfare support team to provide assistance to passengers.”
East Midlands Railway has established a dedicated helpline for passengers and families directly affected by the collision, offering assistance with recovering personal belongings and referrals for further support where required.
Read: Helpline launched for passengers and families affected by Bedford rail collision
Investigation continues
The Transport Secretary again stressed the importance of allowing investigators time to establish the cause of the collision.
“While I completely understand the strength of feeling out there, while I hear clearly the clamour for answers, for the need to understand the cause of this tragedy, I must ask everyone for some patience,” she told the House.
“I am determined we get all the answers we’re looking for, and that lessons are learned.”
RAIB inspectors arrived at the scene within hours of the collision and have begun gathering evidence. British Transport Police is also conducting a parallel investigation.
Ms Alexander said investigators would determine the cause of the collision and make recommendations, which the Government would consider carefully.
Rail safety
The Transport Secretary also sought to reassure passengers about the wider safety of Britain’s rail network.
“Britain does have one of the safest railways in the world,” she said.
“Thankfully, incidents like this are extremely rare, and, when they do occur, they are taken very seriously.
“Safety remains the absolute priority across our rail network – of that there should be no doubt.”
She noted that alongside the railway industry’s own safety experts and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, an independent rail safety regulator would also examine the findings of the investigation.
“I expect all of them to be studying the findings from the investigation, and I will ensure the right steps are then taken,” she said.
Community response
Ms Alexander also paid tribute to the emergency services, railway staff and members of the public who helped in the aftermath of the collision.
Read: Emergency services, volunteers and businesses praised after Bedford rail collision
She highlighted the actions of local residents who provided water to stranded passengers and praised railway staff who supported passengers during the emergency.
“Whether it was members of the local community, who lived near the stranded trains, providing bottles of water to stranded passengers, the Salvation Army’s food truck that’s been on the scene since the incident or station staff along the route, who supported passengers amid the disruption,” she said.
She also praised a ticket inspector who, despite being injured, reportedly radioed to close the railway line while checking on passengers.
“I truly believe the best of us show up in the worst of times, and that is again the case here,” she added.
The railway between Bedford and Luton remains closed while recovery and repair work continues. Passengers are being advised to travel only if necessary and to check before travelling.
Read: No direct Bedford-to-London trains this week as rail recovery operation begins
