A rail worker died and more than 150 others sustained injuries when two trains collided in Bedford, prompting strike action over fleet safety concerns.
The incident occurred just south of the Elstow interchange where the A421 meets the A6. The collision involved a pair of East Midlands Railway units from the Class 810 series.
Staff represented by the RMT union are preparing to walk out on Saturday and the two subsequent Saturdays due to worries about the safety of the trains involved in the fatal collision. East Midlands Railway maintains that these units were only introduced after satisfying stringent safety requirements.
According to the union, the Hitachi Rail 810 series, which launched in April, has been experiencing technical problems including communication breakdowns, with union members reporting at least three separate incidents during the preceding week.
Two units from this fleet collided in Bedford on June 19, resulting in the death of driver Shaun Burton and injuries to over 150 passengers.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey called for the trains to be withdrawn from operation until the technical problems are resolved and it can be demonstrated they are functioning correctly.
An East Midlands Railway representative stated that claims the Class 810 fleet fails to comply with necessary safety standards are unfounded, adding that all units underwent comprehensive testing and satisfied the stringent criteria set by the independent regulatory body before commencing passenger operations. The company acknowledged that the fleet has suffered reliability problems in service and is collaborating with manufacturer Hitachi Rail to address these matters promptly. Discussions with the RMT regarding the disagreement remain ongoing. Hitachi Rail declined to provide additional remarks beyond the operator’s statement.
Investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are examining the Bedford collision. Initial findings indicated that the Nottingham-bound service halted unexpectedly when brakes engaged due to a defect in the warning system. A following service originating from Corby subsequently struck the stationary Nottingham train at approximately 76mph after travelling through two cautionary yellow aspects and a mandatory red signal.
East Midlands Railway has committed to assisting the investigation, with the company’s managing director previously affirming that every possible measure would be implemented to prevent such an incident recurring.