Dear editor,
On the afternoon of Friday, 26th June, I was able to take one of the first Thameslink trains from Luton to Bedford, following the partial reopening of the railway after last week’s tragic crash.
Running past the scene of the accident at reduced speed was a deeply sobering experience, and my thoughts were obviously focused on the driver, his family, the passengers and all the medical and rescue teams who came to their aid – not to mention the many local people who rallied around to support on the evening and in the days since.
Read: Train driver killed in Bedford rail collision named as Shaun Burton
But I was also struck by the impressive feats of all those involved in clearing the area and repairing the railway so quickly, all of whom will have had to work in this week’s searing temperatures whilst no doubt wearing layers of personal protective equipment.
Read: More than 100 treated after Bedford train crash as eight remain critical
Thank you to all of them.
The past week has really shown how much Bedford relies on its railway connection and has been a reminder to me that this fantastic asset shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Dr Ross Purves
Kempston
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