Two passenger trains collided on the railway line north of London on Monday morning, injuring at least 20 people, according to transport police and emergency services reports. The collision occurred near the town of Stevenage just after 8 a.m., leading to an immediate response from multiple ambulance crews and fire units, Dawn reports.
Initial investigations suggest that one of the trains failed to stop at a signal, striking the rear of the other train which was stationary at the time. NDTV cites eyewitnesses who heard a loud impact followed by screams, and passengers were evacuated from the damaged carriages by emergency responders.
Emergency services managed to treat several individuals at the scene, including some with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, before taking them to nearby hospitals. The Straits Times notes that both train operators are cooperating with authorities to determine the precise cause of the incident.
The railway line has been closed temporarily for investigation and debris clearance, disrupting services on the Great Northern route. Network Rail has pledged to conduct a full safety review of signal systems and train operations in the area, as reported by Dawn.
Authorities will release further details once the investigation concludes, and commuters are advised to expect delays or seek alternative routes. This incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of railway safety protocols in the UK, emphasizing the need for stringent preventative measures to avoid similar accidents in the future.
