A train driver killed in a crash in Bedfordshire passed a red signal moments before the collision, investigators have said. Shaun Burton, 60, died when the East Midlands Railway (EMR) train he was driving hit the back of a stationary train run by the same operator.
Interim Report Findings
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said in an interim report that Mr Burton's train proceeded past a red signal near the scene of the crash in Elstow, near Bedford, at 5.15pm on Friday. The report added that "it is not yet possible to say what indication the driver received" from automatic warning system (AWS) equipment fitted to the train.
Casualties and Injuries
Some 162 people were injured in the crash, 102 of whom needed hospital treatment. Fifty-three remain in hospital, including eight in a critical condition. The collision occurred when the moving EMR train struck the rear of a stationary EMR train on the same line.
Ongoing Investigation
The RAIB continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the operation of the AWS and the driver's actions. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
