Train driver who died in Bedford crash passed red signal just moments before collision, investigation finds

The collision involved two East Midlands Railway trains, with one hitting the back of the other on the same line in Elstow near Bedford just after 5pm on Friday.

Mr Burton died when the train he was driving hit the back of a stationary train.

Roughly 162 people were injured in the incident, 102 of whom required hospital treatment.

Fifty-three remain in hospital, with eight people in a critical condition.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) released an interim report stating Mr Burton's train proceeded to pass a red signal near the scene of the crash in Elstow.

It added, however, "it is not yet possible to say what indication the driver received" from automatic warning system (AWS) equipment in the train.

CCTV footage from a forward-facing camera on Mr Burton's train shows a signal near the crash site displaying red as the train approached and passed it, the RAIB said.

The train was travelling at 76mph when its brakes were applied nine seconds before impact, preliminary analysis of a data recorder has showed.

At the point of contact with the other train, its speed had reduced to 49mph.

AWS systems trigger a bell or chime when a train approaches a green signal.

A horn sounds when a red signal is approached.

Drivers must acknowledge the horn warning by pressing a button, with a visual indicator then appearing in the cab as a reminder.

If the warning is not acknowledged quickly enough, the train's emergency brake is automatically applied.

Investigators said the stationary train involved in the collision had stopped "unexpectedly".

A fault with its AWS equipment had caused its brakes to activate.

This automatically triggered the signal behind the stationary train to change to red.

The Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander thanked the RAIB for "providing an update on their investigation" and gave her sympathies to those impacted by the crash.

She said: "My deepest sympathies remain with everyone affected by Friday's tragic collision, and in particular with the family of the driver who lost his life and those who remain in hospital.

"My heartfelt thanks go to every person who responded so bravely and professionally in the most difficult of circumstances.

"I want to thank the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) for providing an update on their investigation so far, which will help us begin to understand the sequence of events that led to the incident.

"The report makes clear there is still much to establish, and the full investigation will provide the answers and recommendations everyone affected deserves."

She continued to say Britain's railway "is one of the safest in the world" and the investigation will "leave no stone unturned".

"Our railway is one of the safest in the world, and while incidents like this are incredibly rare, when they do occur we will leave no stone unturned to understand what happened.

"The RAIB will publish their full report in due course and I will consider those findings with the utmost care and take any action necessary.

"Until then I ask that the RAIB be given the space to complete their work thoroughly and speculation is avoided so we can establish the full picture and ensure the right steps are taken in response," she said.