The driver killed in the train crash near Bedford has been named as Shaun Burton.
The 60-year-old died when the East Midlands Railway (EMR) train he was driving crashed into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday.
In a tribute issued by British Transport Police (BTP), his family said: “We are devastated by his loss.
“Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident.”
Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said: “We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues, which will never be filled.
“Shaun, a driver at East Midlands Railway, joined the railway relatively late in life.
“He loved public transport – he used to work on buses and coaches – before he became a train driver seven years ago.
“He was dedicated to the job, and devoted to his colleagues and enormously popular at his depot.
“The railway family grieves his passing; no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight.”
BTP said the family have asked “for their privacy to be respected as they begin to come to terms with this devastating loss”.
“Our thoughts continue to be with them and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway,” a BTP spokesperson said.
Some 100 other people were injured in the crash, when the front of the 4.40pm Friday departure from Corby to London St Pancras hit the rear of the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, to the same destination.
Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, also paid tribute to the mainline driver, who he said joined the company in 2019 and was a “dedicated railway professional whose commitment, service, and professionalism touched the lives of colleagues and passengers alike”.
“Shaun was known for his quick-wit, kind, generous, and intelligent nature, and for always having a smile on his face,” Mr Rogers said.
“He was a well respected colleague both in his role as a driver, and in his previous role as a train manager, often acting as a trusted advisor and available to share his wisdom, support and guidance to others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
Earlier on Sunday, Network Rail said it believed the crash was a “tragic, isolated incident” and that a “complex recovery operation” to remove the damaged trains and carriages from the railway had begun.
Pictures the company released on Sunday showed a temporary road being built on to the field next to the train track, which will be used by a crane that will move the carriages on to a trailer to be driven away.
Engineers will then need to assess the damage and complete repairs, meaning services through Bedford will be disrupted throughout the week.
There will be no services north of Luton towards Bedford on the busy commuter Thameslink line and no EMR services south of Bedford, with a limited rail replacement bus service running between Luton and Bedford, Network Rail said.
Ellie Burrows, a regional managing director for Network Rail, said: “While investigations are still at an early stage, current indications are that this was a tragic, isolated incident.
“We are focused on the safe reopening of the railway and getting services running as quickly as possible.
“During this time, our message to passengers is clear – please expect disruption to services through this area for the majority of next week and only travel if absolutely necessary.”
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is investigating the incident and said it would provide a further update once more is known about the crash.
More than 80 people were treated in hospital on Friday night and as of Saturday morning 28 remained in hospital, with nine in a critical condition, BTP previously said.
EMR has created a call line for customers and families directly involved in the crash.
“The line is staffed by trained colleagues who will be able to help with queries including the return of personal possessions”, EMR said in a post on X.
The telephone number is 0333 212 59 34 and is open from 7am to 8pm weekdays, 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to 8pm on Sundays.
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