Two passenger trains operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR) collided near Bedford on Tuesday evening, resulting in injuries to passengers and crew. The crash occurred at approximately 17:12 BST between two EMR services just south of Bedford.

Emergency services, including Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the scene. British Transport Police confirmed they were responding to reports of the collision shortly before 18:45 BST. Rail services on the Thameslink line between Luton and Bedford were blocked from around 17:30 BST following the incident.

Eyewitness accounts suggest one train may have collided with another that was stationary or moving slowly ahead on the same track. A passenger on board one of the trains described the impact as feeling like a "bomb explosion," reporting visible injuries, including bloodied faces and suspected broken legs, as well as smoke.

Another passenger corroborated the severity, stating that people were thrown from their seats and that there was "a lot of blood" and "facial injuries." The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has stated it has received reports of "serious injuries" sustained by both passengers and onboard train staff.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has dispatched a team of inspectors to the collision site near Elstow to begin gathering evidence and determine the cause of the crash. The RAIB's preliminary statement indicated their presence to "start gathering evidence."

East Midlands Railway has confirmed that two of its services were involved in the collision. The affected services included the 16:40 EMR train traveling from Corby to London St Pancras.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed deep concern regarding the reports of the collision. Police have advised family and friends of passengers not to travel to the scene, urging them to instead await updates through official channels.

The location of the crash is noted as being just south of the Elstow interchange, situated between the A421 and the A6. Both trains involved remain on the track.