London – One person has died and dozens were injured, 11 of them “very seriously,” after two passenger trains collided north of London on Friday, U.K. emergency services said.

The crash occurred late afternoon near Bedford, a town around 90 kilometers north of the U.K. capital, and involved two London-bound trains on the same track, according to East Midlands Railway (EMR).

“There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused,” passenger Pete Knapp told the Press Association news agency.

“I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs,” he added.

In an update nearly five hours after the collision, the East of England Ambulance Service confirmed one person had died at the scene.

“A further 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and a further 56 people had minor injuries,” it added.

“Those with minor injuries were treated at the scene or taken to hospital where needed.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “hugely concerning” and his thoughts were “with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured“.

“I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident.”

Unverified footage posted to social media showed the aftermath of the collision, with passengers pictured walking along the tracks beside the two damaged EMR trains. Some people initially waited in a nearby field.

The trains remained upright largely still on the track, though at least one carriage appeared to have left the rails, according to aerial footage broadcast by news outlets.

Knapp posted images and video on social media platform Bluesky, noting he was “in the front carriage” of one train and “in shock” afterward.

“I’m ok with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good,” he added.

Teresa Itabor told the BBC there was “a massive bang” and then her head hit the seat in front.

“I opened my eyes and that’s when I saw people on the floor with blood everywhere,” she said.

An EMR spokesperson confirmed the collision involved two of its trains heading southbound for London St. Pancras Station.

One service had first departed from Corby while the other originated from Nottingham, both in central England.

EMR trains were “unable to run in or out on London St. Pancras for the remainder of this evening,” the statement added.

British Transport Police said a “major incident” had been declared and a multiagency response at the scene was ongoing.

The ambulance service noted it had dispatched more than 20 ambulances and six air ambulances.

“All...

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