Driver who died in Bedford train crash that left 100 people injured is named

The driver who died in a train crash near Bedford in which 100 people were injured has been named as Shaun Burton, who was 60-years old.

His family are today paying tribute to him.

They said: "We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident."

The collision, which left nine in a critical condition, involved two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains.

Read more:
Girl and two boys arrested on suspicion of murdering teenager
Extreme heat warning issued - as temperatures set to hit 38C

One smashed into the back of the other on the same line just after 5pm on Friday.

British Transport Police said more than 80 people were treated in hospital on Friday night, and 28 remained there as of Saturday morning.

Of the 100 victims, 11 were very seriously injured, 32 were seriously hurt, and 57 suffered minor injuries, the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said.

Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers' union, said Mr Burton "loved public transport" and worked on buses and coaches before becoming a train driver seven years ago.

Mr Calfe said: "We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues, which will never be filled.

"Shaun, a driver at East Midlands Railway, joined the railway relatively late in life. He loved public transport - he used to work on buses and coaches - before he became a train driver seven years ago.

"He was dedicated to the job, and devoted to his colleagues and enormously popular at his depot. The railway family grieves his passing; no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight."

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."

The front of the 4.40pm departure from Corby to London St Pancras was crushed when it smashed into the rear of the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, to the same destination, on Friday evening.

Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, described faces bloodied, smoke filling the carriage, and people unresponsive.

"Some people screaming, crying, they were confused and scared," he said.

Buckingham Palace said King Charles was "greatly saddened" by the rail crash and that his "thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured of affected by such a tragic incident".

Network Rail said rail services around Bedford will be disrupted until 28 June while a "complex recovery operation" continues to remove the damaged trains and carriages from the track.

Engineers will then need to assess the damage and complete repairs, it added.

Passengers have also been advised to only travel if it is "absolutely necessary" within this period.

Sky News understands the accident investigation will take several months to complete.

(c) Sky News 2026: Driver who died in Bedford train crash that left 100 people injured is named