A fatal train collision in Bedfordshire on June 19 has been linked to a driver passing a red signal before crashing into a stationary train, according to an interim report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). Shaun Burton, 60, the driver of the East Midlands Railway (EMR) service travelling from Corby to London St Pancras, died in the incident near Elstow, close to Bedford. The accident injured more than 160 passengers, with 102 requiring hospital treatment.

Data from the train’s recorders indicated that the train acknowledged a red signal but continued to accelerate, reaching a speed of 76 mph shortly before the collision. Investigators said the driver initially applied the full service brake roughly 10 seconds before impact, followed by the emergency brake about two seconds later, when the train was approximately 200 meters away from the stationary train. The second train, operating from Nottingham to London St Pancras, had reduced speed to around 50 mph at the time of impact.

RAIB stated it is probable that the sequence of braking activities reflects the driver detecting the presence of the train ahead and responding to it. However, the last available footage from Mr. Burton’s train was taken about 600 meters from the crash site, and due to the curvature of the track, it was not possible to confirm whether the trains were on the same line at that point. Investigators noted that such limited visibility could also affect train drivers under similar conditions.

The stationary train had unexpectedly stopped after a fault in its automatic warning system triggered the brakes. This incident caused the signal behind it to change to red automatically as a protective measure for oncoming trains. According to RAIB, the accelerating train acknowledged a preceding yellow warning signal after departing Bedford, indicating that the driver should have anticipated the next signal to be red and adjusted the train’s speed accordingly. Despite this, the train passed the red signal at 17:12:53.

The investigation remains ongoing, with RAIB continuing to examine the reasons why the train passed the signal at danger, as well as the status of braking and other safety systems. The branch emphasized that early-stage reports focus primarily on immediate events and that a full explanation of the underlying causes may evolve as the inquiry progresses.

East Midlands Railway expressed regret over the incident and its impact on those involved. A company spokesperson pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation, reviewing the findings carefully to identify and implement necessary safety improvements to prevent a recurrence. Support for affected passengers and staff remains a priority for the operator as the investigation proceeds.