See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:39 BST, 21 June 2026 | Updated: 17:43 BST, 21 June 2026
The driver who died in a train crash near Bedford has been named as 60-year-old Shaun Burton.One train smashed into the back of the other on the same line just after 5pm on Friday. The collision killed the train driver instantly and left nine people fighting for their lives in hospital. In a tribute, his grieving family said: 'We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident.'Of the 100 victims, 11 people were very seriously injured, a further 32 were seriously hurt, and 57 others suffered minor injuries, the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said.It was the highest number of casualties of any rail disaster in the UK for 20 years. Driver Shaun Burton, 60, died in the crash between the two trains in Bedford on Friday afternoon Specialist crane equipment has also arrived this morning at the crash site which will be used to lift the two trains off the tracksNetwork Rail today described the crash as a 'tragic, isolated incident' and announced that rail services will be disrupted until June 28 while a 'complex recovery operation' begins to remove the damaged trains and carriages.King Charles joined senior politicians in offering their condolences following Britain's worst train disaster in 20 years.The monarch said he was 'greatly saddened' and his 'thoughts and sympathies' were with the family of the deceased and those affected.The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said on Saturday that its inspectors continued to gather evidence at the scene.'RAIB will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into this tragic accident,' the agency said in a post on X.'We will provide a further update in the coming days once we know more.'
