Killed train driver was well-known community figure

British Transport Police

The driver who was killed when two trains crashed near Bedford has been hailed as “a great stalwart of the local community”.

Shaun Burton, 60, died in Friday’s collision between two London-bound services, in which 100 people were injured.

Burton, who had previously been a parish and district councillor for The Stukeleys in Cambridgeshire, was a driver for East Midlands Railway (EMR).

“I think all of us in the local community are just devastated as well as shocked at what happened,” said Tom Sanderson, Huntingdonshire District Council member for The Stukeleys.

“We would see him, sometimes cycling to and from the station, working those unsociable hours that train drivers do.

“He did a tremendous amount for the community and all of us who had the pleasure of knowing Shaun will miss him greatly.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also paid tribute in the House of Commons on Monday.

EPA/Shutterstock

Sanderson said Burton was “very experienced and knowledgeable” when it came to trains.

“I know he enjoyed his work very much as well. I can’t imagine what the family must be going through at the moment.”

He added that Burton had campaigned passionately over road safety in the village.

“Shaun was an expert on planning and wrote a lot of policies for the neighbourhood plan, and I think his legacy will live on for many years to come.

“He was just a very genuinely decent, down-to-earth person.

“He’s the sort of person you’d want as your next-door neighbour… it was always good to see him.”

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC

Will Rogers, managing director at EMR, said: “Shaun was a much loved colleague: kind, generous and intelligent.

“He was well respected as a driver and in his previous role as a train manager.

“He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.”

Sarah Conboy, leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said she “was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Shaun Burton”.

“His loss is profoundly felt, both by his family and across the local community he served,” she added.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow said: “The many tributes from those who have worked with Mr Burton over the years show he was clearly a well-loved colleague and member of our community.

“My thoughts are with Mr Burton’s family and friends and I wish a speedy recovery to those injured.

“I also pay tribute to the rail staff, emergency services and those in the community who responded to this serious incident.”

Nicola Haseler/BBC

Network Rail said the line was expected to remain closed between Bedford and Luton for the rest of the week, until 28 June.

The two trains were removed from the site of the crash on Monday, and EMR said its priority was to safely “recover the railway.”

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