An investigation into a fatal train crash in Bedfordshire has revealed that the driver of one of the involved trains passed a red signal shortly before the collision. The incident, which occurred on Friday, resulted in the death of train driver Shaun Burton, 60, and injuries to 162 passengers.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) stated in an interim report that the train, traveling towards London, passed a red signal near Elstow, Bedford, at approximately 17:15 BST. Investigators noted that it is currently not possible to determine the exact indication the driver received from the train's automatic warning system (AWS) equipment at that time.
The stationary train that was struck had come to an unexpected halt due to a fault with its own AWS equipment. Data collected by investigators indicates that the signal behind this stationary train was red.
The report details that the train which had departed from Corby passed this red signal, and its brakes were applied for approximately nine seconds before the impact. At the time of the collision, the train was traveling at about 76 mph, with its speed reduced to 49 mph by the time of the impact.