Bedford train crash driver died from 'traumatic injuries to brainstem and chest

Bedford train crash driver died from 'traumatic injuries to brainstem and chest'

A train driver who was killed in a rail collision near Bedford died from traumatic injuries to his brainstem and chest, an inquest has heard. Shaun Burton, 60, died on 19 June after the train he was operating ploughed into the back of another service at Elstow.

The inquest opened at the Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court in Ampthill. During the five-minute hearing, coroner's officer Natalie Shirran read a statement from consultant pathologist Dr Virginia Fitzpatrick-Swallow, who identified the cause of death as traumatic injuries to the brainstem and chest, pending further investigations.

The collision occurred at approximately 17.14 hours. Mr Burton's East Midlands Railway (EMR) train, which had departed Corby, Northamptonshire, at 16:40 BST and was heading toward London St Pancras, struck the rear of a stationary service that had originated in Nottingham at 15:50.

The crash left 162 people injured, with 102 requiring hospital treatment. According to reports from three weeks ago, 53 people remained in the hospital, including eight in a critical condition.

Investigation into the Collision

An interim report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that Mr Burton's train passed a red signal shortly before the impact. Forward-facing CCTV images showed the signal displaying a red aspect as the train approached and then passed it.

The stationary Nottingham service had come to a stop unexpectedly due to a fault with its Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment, which caused its brakes to apply. This fault automatically triggered the signal behind the train to change to red to warn approaching services.

The court heard that the AWS equipment on Mr Burton's train is designed to sound a bell or chime for green signals and a horn for non-green signals. Drivers must acknowledge the latter by pressing a button, or the emergency brakes are automatically applied.

Data recovered from the wreckage provided the following timeline of the final moments before the impact:

Mr Burton was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:49 BST on 19 June and was formally identified by the Fingerprint Identification Bureau on 25 June.

Tributes to Shaun Burton

Mr Burton lived in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and had served as a parish and district councillor representing The Stukeleys ward on Huntingdonshire District Council. He joined EMR in 2019, having previously worked on buses and coaches.

Will Rogers, the managing director of EMR, described Mr Burton as a dedicated railway professional and a well respected colleague who had previously served as a Train Manager. He noted that Mr Burton was known for his quick-wit, kind, generous, and intelligent nature.

Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, stated that the railway family grieves his passing and remarked that no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home.

Senior Coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton Emma Whitting offered her condolences to Mr Burton's family, friends, and colleagues. The driver's family stated they were devastated by the loss, though they did not attend the hearing.

The inquest has been adjourned until a later date, which has not yet been fixed, pending the conclusion of reports from the British Transport Police and the RAIB.