Collins Solicitors

30/07/2026

MEDIA RELEASE
30 July 2026
Collins Solicitors issues update on Bedford train crash claim

Collins Solicitors has today written to East Midlands Railway, the operating company whose trains fatefully collided outside Bedford on 19th June, causing the death of one driver and injuries to 162 passengers, and Network Rail - inviting both to admit joint liability for the fatal incident. This correspondence comes in light of recent reports within the rail industry of significant safety concerns within East Midland Railway, leading the RMT union to call for strike action.

Senior Partner, Des Collins comments:

“Inevitably, the conclusive causes of rail crashes take time to establish as investigations are necessarily detailed and meticulous. However, it is clear from all reports to date that the signal passed at danger (SPAD) was compounded by the lack of a Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) on that stretch of railway which, if triggered, is designed to automatically bring a train to a safe stop, preventing a collision.

“We are determined that our clients should be spared the trauma of unnecessarily prolonged litigation and so have invited both East Midlands Railway and Network Rail to accept liability in principle. The ultimate share of costs between them can be ironed out over time, but the immediate priority is to ensure swift passenger compensation for their injuries and losses. If liability is not accepted, we shall commence proceedings.

“An admission of liability in these circumstances, where all safety precautions available within the rail industry were not adopted, should allow for swift and seamless interim claims for financial relief, such as extended sick pay to allow victims to cover their household expenses whilst unable to work. However, the extent and scope of final compensation claims would be calculated individually thereafter, as the severity of injury and other losses are taken into account.”

Collins Solicitors, based in Watford, has particular experience in this field, having advised victims and survivors of several past rail crashes including Paddington/Ladbroke Grove, Southall, Watford, and Hatfield. It is also well-known across the Midlands and elsewhere for its work on the Corby toxic waste litigation and most recently the infected blood inquiry. It is currently advising a number of victims of the Bedford rail tragedy..

Collins’ Transport Litigation team helps people understand what level of damages is achievable under the law, and the details of any compensation scheme provided by the companies involved.

ENDS

For more information, the firm recommends victims and their families visit their website https://collinslaw.co.uk/post.php?s=2026-06-29-what-should-i-do-if-i-was-involved-in-the-bedford-rail-crash or ring 0800 731 5821 or 01923 223324 (email: [email protected])_

East Midlands Railway also has a dedicated help line for anyone who was directly involved in the Bedford incident staffed by the British Red Cross and the number is 0333 212 59 34.

ENDS

To interview Des Collins on this topic, please contact:-

Melanie Riley: [email protected] / Mob: 07775 591244
Or Chloe Skeath: [email protected]

Notes to Editors

For further details of Collins’ experience in the personal injury space please visit www.collinslaw.co.uk

If you have a legal matter that you would like help with, please either call us on 0800 731 5821, email us on [email protected] or tweet us at

15/07/2026

A group of our clients will be leading a protest in Corby tomorrow as part of their campaign for a public inquiry into the historic clean-up of the old Corby steelworks. Local families want more investigation of their concerns about the public health ramifications of where the toxic waste was buried, in particular the disproportionate number of children being diagnosed with cancer in the area, in their view. We wont be attending tomorrow but applaud their continued efforts to keep this issue high profile and to put pressure on North Northamptonshire Council to do the right thing.

A group of parents concerned about cancer rates among Corby children are planning a silent protest at the Corby Cube this week.

02/07/2026

2 July 2026
Collins Solicitors takes on clients following the Bedford train crash

Passenger rail services have resumed on the stretch of track impacted by the Friday 19 June collision between two East Midlands Railway trains near Bedford, but for many of the 162 injured in this collision, it will be a long time before any semblance of normality resumes.

Over 100 people required hospital treatment and many will continue to be off work as they recover medically and emotionally from the incident.

Some are beginning to turn their thoughts as to how to put lives back together and obtain compensation. Collins Solicitors has received inquiries from the families of several victims looking for legal assistance in this regard.

The firm is advising people to
• Keep hold of your ticket or proof of purchase;
• Write down everything you can remember of the crash, including where you were sitting/standing and what happened to you after the impact;
• Write down the injuries you have suffered, and if you were treated by medical staff and then went to hospital, if possible, try to get hold of a copy of your medical notes.
• Write a note on how this has affected you in terms of your ability to work, concentrate, sleep, interact with others – ie keep a clear record of how you are suffering as a result of this incident.

Collins Solicitors, Senior Partner, Des Collins comments: “It is still premature to make a compensation claim because claims will depend not only on the injury suffered but a number of matters yet to be determined. The investigation process is now underway.

Initial findings suggest the lack of a TPWS (Train Protection Warning System) may have contributed to the accident, however experts will need to provide detailed analysis on exactly what happened and why.

Meantime, it may be possible to make an interim claim for financial relief - for example if time off work exceeds sick pay allowances.”

Des adds: “Given our experience advising the victims and survivors of several past rail crashes (including Paddington/Ladbroke Grove, Southall, Watford, and Hatfield), we are well placed to assist those involved in the Bedford crash. We are also regulated to work on a no-win no-fee basis meaning victims will not be required to put up any money to bring a claim.”

Collins Solicitors, based in Watford, is well-known for its work on the Corby toxic waste litigation and most recently the infected blood inquiry. The team is now gearing up to assist Bedford rail-crash victims, many of whom will likely live in and around the Corby area, as their next fight for justice and compensation for victims.

Des Collins says: “This is very much our area of expertise and we have a team briefed and ready to provide support as the legal side of this tragedy unfolds.”

Collins’ Transport Litigation team will be able to help people understand what level of damages is achievable under the law, and in time against whom any claim should be made. They will also be able to advise on rights if a redress scheme is set up by Network Rail or a train operator.

For more information the firm recommends victims and their families visit their website https://collinslaw.co.uk/post.php?s=2026-06-29-what-should-i-do-if-i-was-involved-in-the-bedford-rail-crash . You can call 0800 731 5821 or 01923 223324 . Email www.collinslaw.co.uk

East Midlands Railway also has a dedicated help line for anyone who was directly involved in the Bedford incident staffed by the British Red Cross and the number is 0333 212 59 34.

ENDS

To interview Des Collins on this topic, please contact:-

Chloe Skeath: [email protected] 07951 233819
Louise Beeson: [email protected] 07768 956997
Or his EA Tara Parkin [email protected]

Notes to Editors

For further details of Collins’ experience in the personal injury space please visit www.collinslaw.co.uk

If you have a legal matter that you would like help with, please either call us on 0800 731 5821, email us on [email protected] or tweet us at

26/06/2026

Details are emerging about the reasons for the Bedford train crash last Friday.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has said in an interim report that the moving train proceeded past a red signal prior to the collision.
It also found that the stationary train had come to a stop "unexpectedly" because of a fault with its Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment.
The investigation process continues.

Our sympathies go out to the more than 150 people injured in this terrible incident and, of course, to the family of train driver Shaun Burton who tragically lost his life.

We know from experience of other rail incidents the emotional, medical and psychological impact that accidents like this involve, the importance of understanding exactly what happened and why, as well as what ongoing support is available.

If you, or a loved one, has been personally affected by injury as a result of this crash, Collins Solicitors is available to provide expert advice and to discuss your rights and the legal issues with you. We have helped past victims to navigate inquests and inquiries, and with the process of securing interim and final compensation for what they have suffered in accidents such as this.

Please visit our website https://collinslaw.co.uk for further information or do get in touch and one of our senior team will be able to chat through your legal options and the pathway ahead.

If you have a legal matter that you would like help with, please either call us on 0800 731 5821, email us on [email protected] or tweet us at

23/06/2026

Collins Solicitors has been deeply saddened by the news of the Bedford rail crash over the weekend and extends our condolences to the driver, Shaun Burton’s family and friends. Although the cause is yet to be confirmed, it calls to mind our work for the many victims of the Paddington/Ladbroke Grove, Southall, Watford, Potters Bar and Hatfield rail incidents.

While rail travel is much safer than ever before, and certainly crashes are rarer than incidents involving other forms of transport, we have seen too many lives lost, and life-changing injuries inflicted, due to mistakes involving a combination of technology and human interaction at some point in the communication chain.

If you, or a loved one, has been personally affected by injury as a result of this crash, rest assured that experienced legal help is on hand to ensure you receive sensitive support and timely interim compensation. We know how important it is to reduce the understandable fear of financial difficulties as you take the time you need to recover.

Getting legal support may feel like a minefield so we have set up a Q&A Page https://collinslaw.co.uk/post.php?s=2026-06-22-statement-on-bedford-rail-incident that should help answer your initial questions. Otherwise, do get in touch and one of our senior team will be on hand as you explore your legal options at no cost.

If you have a legal matter that you would like help with, please either call us on 0800 731 5821, email us on [email protected] or tweet us at

19/06/2026

🎺📣 🎺 We're delighted that our Senior Partner Des Collins has been shortlisted by The Law Society in their Legal Heroes programme for 2026! 😇

Winners will be announced on 24 September. Meantime the judges will look at nominees' role in creating change and making a demonstrable positive impact on a group or community above and beyond the usual ‘day job’ of being a professional solicitor.

Des has been shortlisted due to his work for the infected blood and Corby communities during his career.

Go Des! And good luck with the next stage of this awards programme.... 🤞 🫰 🤞

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18/05/2026

MEDIA COMMENT 18 May 2026
Ahead of the national Memorial Service for infected blood victims taking place at St Paul's Cathedral tomorrow (the 2 year anniversary of the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report), Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1500 victims of the infected blood scandal, has the following comment: ** note: Des will be attending and available for interview ahead of the service if required **

"On the face of it a national service at St Paul's is a significant mark of respect for the many victims of the infected blood scandal and their families. It shows just how far we have come in the journey for recognition from the days when victims were stonewalled, disbelieved and denied by various state agencies over very many years. The service will be an important moment for many in the infected blood community, an opportunity to remember loved ones as well as for all in attendance to reflect on a scandal we hope is never inflicted on British citizens again.

Yet, we should not be misled into thinking this scandal is truly behind us because issues remain. Enhancements to the statutory Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (IBCS) were recently announced but are yet to be implemented. Payouts have been made to many living victims but will now need to be revisited accordingly and many, many families still await their turn to make applications to the scheme.

Yes headline extra funding has been promised but legislation is still required to enact the proposed new supplementary awards and categories behind that and may take months yet to be prepared and laid before Parliament. So at present the IBCS is operating on go- slow until the new rules take effect. The likelihood is that claim processing wont pick up again until the end of the year at least or whenever the new rules are implemented.

That is frustrating for those still awaiting funds but also those who will now want to apply to have their compensation award reviewed with regard to a potential uplift.

The infected blood community is very accustomed to delay. What is annoying is that it is now over three years since Sir Brian Langstaff's second interim report on compensation was published (in April 2023) where the principal recommendation was that a compensation scheme should be set up immediately because victims had already waited too long. And as the Memorial Services reminds us, it is 2 years since Sir Brian's final Inquiry Report. I cant help but think this all could have been avoided if previous Governments had done more to prepare adequately for the enactment of the scheme.

In addition, we still have the huge issue looming of whether there will be criminal prosecutions over the infected blood scandal.

The National Police Chiefs Council is still considering the evidence, not just in relation to what took place at Treloar's school all those years ago, but also, we understand, wider aspects of the scandal and the personalities and institutions involved. They say they still need more time to review the findings of the Inquiry and consider whether the criteria for a criminal investigation and prosecution are met. Thus this remains a big open question in terms of justice for infected blood victims and their families.

I have long said the level of culpability involved in the infected blood scandal could possibly constitute corporate manslaughter or criminal negligence. However I always bet there would be no appetite to prosecute individuals or the state institutions that failed, unlike in France where prosecutions were bought successfully.

It is perhaps interesting to remember that Andy Burnham was one of the few who have publically called for a criminal investigation relating to the infected blood scandal. Having been wrongly briefed during his time as Health Secretary, he went on to be one of the most prominent political champions for the victims of the infected blood scandal, consistently labeling the disaster a 'criminal cover-up' .

Who knows what might come to pass on this front should he return to frontline national politics."

ENDS
To interview Des Collins on this topic, please contact:- Louise Beeson: [email protected] / Mob: 07768 956997
Or his EA Tara Parkin [email protected]
Notes to Editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, was the UK's largest ever statutory inquiry. It began in July 2018 to examine the circumstances in which patients treated by the NHS in the 1970s and 80s became infected with HIV and Hepatitis due to treatment involving infected blood products. The Inquiry Final Report was published on 20 May 2024. Collins Solicitors represented the largest victim group in the Inquiry – numbering some 1,500 infected and affected clients. An £11.8 billion compensation package is currently being disbursed by the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and Collins Solicitors continues to support clients in the application process to the scheme.

15/04/2026

Today’s statement to the House by Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds about an extra £1bn in funding for those affected by the infected blood scandal is clearly very welcome news.

As well as increasing the overall amount of money allocated to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (IBCS), the Government has pledged to make various adjustments to the existing scheme – for example, it will;

· Recognise psychological harm via a new supplementary award;
· Compensate those who received interferon treatment in a new severity banding;
· Increase the core award available to bereaved parents, partners and children/siblings with no additional evidence requirement;
· Establish a new category for those who were prevented from fulfilling a well-paid career or had disrupted career progression due to their infection;
· Increase the awards for those who were subjected to unethical research such as the former pupils at Treloar’s school;
· Remove the deduction applied to past care compensation for people who choose to receive support scheme payments for life.

All of this was described as being in response to the recent consultation on the workings of the IBCS and a result of listening to feedback from the infected blood community.

Mr Thomas-Symonds also promised to establish a new channel for the community to raise additional concerns about the design and delivery of the IBCS with quarterly feedback reports.

On the face of it these measures are undoubtedly positive for our clients, however legislation is still required to enact the changes so it may take a few months yet before the additional awards can be accessed and of benefit. We will spend the next days working through the detail of the documents the Government has provided to understand fully the new categories that will be created and the criteria that will apply. Some awards may need to be recalculated but not immediately, until the changes take effect. As ever, the Government is keen this sounds generous to the infected blood community but the timescales remain somewhat unclear.

To view Nick Thomas-Symonds statement in full, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002v8zy/house-of-commons-infected-blood-statement
source: House of Commons - Infected Blood Statement

Coverage of a statement in the House of Commons by cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds on the infected blood compensation scheme, on Tuesday 14 April.