The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says they are "devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died" following the collision.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey confirmed the train driver's death "as a result of today's crash between Luton and Bedford" in a statement on X.

Dempsey said: "The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the ASLEF trade union at this awful time."

Bedford Mayor Tom Wootton says the collision is "clearly a distressing situation" for many people, in a statement posted on Facebook, external.

He says Bedford Borough Council is available to provide support and urges people to allow emergency services and railway authorities "the space they need to deal with the incident and establish the full facts".

"Bedford is a strong community, and when difficult events occur, we come together to support one another," he says. "We will continue to work closely with our partners and will do all we can to assist those affected."

Image source, PA Media

One person has died in a collision between two East Midlands Railway trains near Bedford - here’s what we know, and what we don’t know, about the incident:

What we know:

• British Transport Police declared a major incident after the collision was reported at 17:15 on Friday
• One person died at the scene, the East of England Ambulance Service has confirmed
• The ambulance service says 11 people are very seriously injured, 22 seriously injured, and a further 56 have minor injuries
• The trains involved were the 16:40 from Corby to London St Pancras and the 15:50 from Nottingham to London St Pancras, East Midlands Railway says

What we don’t know:

• Why the crash happened - this will be the subject of a thorough investigation, with staff from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch already at the scene
• Who has died - we don’t yet know who has died in the collision, or whether it was a passenger or staff member

Here is the full statement from the East of England Ambulance Service, which gives more details about the incident:

“The East of England Ambulance Service was called to a collision involving two trains at Elstow, near Bedford, at around 5:15pm.

“We quickly declared a Major Incident and put our emergency response plans into action.

“We sent a large number of resources to the scene, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist Hazardous Area Response Teams, and six air ambulances. All patients with the most serious injuries have now been taken from the scene to hospital.

“Sadly, one person died at the scene. A further 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and a further 56 people had minor injuries. Those with minor injuries were treated at the scene or taken to hospital where needed.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response.”

The East of England Ambulance Service says a total of 89 people have been injured in the two-train collision that police earlier said has left one person dead.

It says 11 people have "very serious injuries", 22 are seriously injured and another 56 have minor injuries.

Alex Pope
At the scene of the collision

I've spoken to more than three people who've come off the train as the walking wounded.

The first thing I asked was, "Are you okay?" There's been a real mix - some people with blood on them, others who are physically fine but clearly in shock.

I'm a few miles out of Bedford, not far from Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire, and it's certainly busy here.

There have been helicopters overhead, along with police and ambulance crews. People have been coming off the train not knowing where they are.

They've been getting off with their luggage, trying to work out where they are and how to get home.

A short while ago, several buses arrived to take people on to their onward journeys.

Image source, Getty Images

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his thoughts are with the family of the person who has died in a two-train collision in Bedfordshire.

"Hugely concerning reports of a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford," Starmer writes on X.

"First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured.

"I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident."

Warning: this video contains distressing material.

Footage filmed by a passenger on board one of the two trains involved in a fatal crash in Bedfordshire shows the scene inside a carriage just after the incident.

Peter Knapp, who took the video, earlier told the BBC the collision "felt like I'd been in a bomb explosion".

Here is the full statement from British Transport Police:

"Officers are continuing to respond to a collision between two trains on the line in Bedford, following reports around 5.15pm today (19 June).

"We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.

"A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services.

"The collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains.

"Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: "We've declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing. We're working at pace to establish exactly what's happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to".

"'Officers from British Transport Police and Bedfordshire Police are on scene with colleagues from the local authority to assist any members of the public concerned about loved ones.'"

One person has died in the collision, the British Transport Police has said.

We’ll bring you more from British Transport Police soon.

The two trains involved in a collision in the Bedford area were the 16:40 from Corby to London St Pancras and the 15:50 from Nottingham to London St Pancras, East Midlands Railway has confirmed.

East Midlands Railway says its staff are currently at the scene, working with Network Rail and emergency crews.

It says it will provide further updates "as more information is established".

Image source, Bedford Hospital

The two main hospitals in the area have posted on social media, external to say their medics are helping passengers injured in the train crash.

Bedford Hospital and the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital have asked the public to avoid attending their emergency departments "unless they have a genuine emergency".

Photos taken at the scene show the aftermath of the collision.

The trains are still on the railway line and there are uniformed officers working in the area.

The line is expected to remain closed for the rest of the evening.

Image source, Alex Knight

Image source, Steve Hubbard/BBC

Image source, Alex Knight

Holly Nichols
in Bedford

Image source, Holly Nichols/BBC

Evacuation buses for those passengers caught up in the collision have started to arrive at the scene near Bedford.

Passengers can be seen queuing to get on board those buses at the B530 Ampthill Road, at Kempston Hardwick.

Alex Pope
in Bedfordshire

Image source, Alex Pope/BBC

Teresa Itabor, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, was on the 16:57 from Wellingborough heading to the capital to celebrate her birthday.

She says she had her eyes closed and headphones in when the collision happened.

"We left Bedford station and there was a massive bang... I didn't know what was going on; my head hit the seat in front of me," she explains.

"I opened my eyes and that's when I saw people on the floor with blood everywhere."

She adds that the carriage doors had jammed and would not open.

"We really didn't know what was happening for a long time."

The two passenger trains collided south of Bedford. This map shows the approximate location of the incident.

The collision happened just south of the Elstow road interchange for the A421 and the A6, close to where Universal is planning to build a massive theme park.

An East Midlands Railway spokesperson said earlier that the trains involved were both heading south to London St Pancras - the 16:40 service from Corby and the 15:50 service from Nottingham.

Thameslink says all lines are blocked between Luton and Bedford and have been since about 17:30.

"If you have not begun your journey, do not travel," the train company has posted, on X, external.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) says its services are also affected, with services to and from London St Pancras suspended for the remainder of the day.

"If you are currently travelling you should use alternative routes," EMR says, external.

Both Thameslink and EMR outline alternative routes at no extra cost on their respective website, alongside details on who's eligible for a refund.

Image source, Katy Lewis/BBC

Bedfordshire Police have asked people not to travel to the scene.

"We understand that people are concerned about relatives or friends who may have been travelling on the trains involved," they say in a statement on X, external, but ask people to wait for further updates from emergency services.

Health Secretary James Murray says he is being "kept updated" following the train collision on the line between Luton and Bedford.

"A number of people have been injured and I thank first responders who are helping those affected," he added in a post on X, external.

The collision happened just south of Elstow, near the road interchange of the A421 and A6.

One passenger, Dr Peter Knapp, describes the collision.

"Some people are spitting out blood," he says.