The driver of one of the trains involved in Sunday’s rail crash near Salisbury in Wiltshire has been left with “life-changing” injuries after having to be cut out of his cab and taken to hospital, according to police.

       The two trains collided in the Fisherton Tunnel outside the cathedral city at around 6.46pm on Sunday evening.

       Giving an update on Monday, British Transport Police (BTP) said: “Thirteen people were taken to hospital by ambulance, where they have received treatment for minor injuries. One remains there.

       “Unfortunately, the driver of the train was more seriously injured and his injuries are believed to be life-changing.

       “He also remains in hospital in a stable condition this morning, and his family have been informed.”

       Recommended Salisbury train crash: 13 treated in hospital after collision Salisbury train crash: 120 rescued from tunnel and driver in hospital after two trains collide

       There were 92 passengers on board the train services when the accident occured, with the first train initially thought to have hit an obstacle on the line before the second smashed into it as a result of a signal failure.

       However, BTP superintendent Lisa Garrett said on Monday afternoon that “there has been nothing to suggest the train struck an object or that there was any significant delay between the trains colliding and one derailing”, explaining that a specialist investigation was in its early stages and that officers were “keeping an open mind” as to cause.

       Asked whether “anything criminal” had taken place, she replied: “We haven’t ruled out foul play at the moment. Until the investigation has actually concluded we cannot confirm why this happened.”

       Around 30 people were taken to makeshift casualty centre set up at nearby St Mark’s Church, the majority of whom were walking wounded and assessed at the scene by medics.

       The 13 more seriously injured passengers were taken to Salisbury District Hospital for treatment, according to Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, with four admitted, three of whom have since been discharged.

       Stacey Hunter, the Trust’s chief executive, said: “I would like to thank all our colleagues who responded to this incident in a calm, professional and compassionate manner.

       “We are all relieved that the outcome of the accident hasn’t been more severe.”

       Firefighters said around 100 people were initially evacuated from the scene.

       “They smashed the windows and we got out of the window. It was really scary,” passenger Lucy Gregory told the BBC.

       “It was a noise we've never heard before... my young ones started panicking thinking it was a bomb and we said maybe a lorry had crashed on the London Road and not to panic,” added Tamar Vellacott, who had also been aboard with her children.

       “There was no screeching like brakes, just a long rumbling sound like thunder hitting the railway line.”

       After the collision, the derailed train - a Great Western Railway service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads - was believed to be on its side.

       Recommended Reshuffle in full: Who is out and who has been promoted? Boris Johnson flexes muscles with cabinet shake-up for post-Covid era PM won’t say how Universal Credit claimants can recoup lost ￡20-a-week

       The other involved - a South Western Railway train from London Waterloo to Honiton - remained upright.

       A spokesman for Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street said: “The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have been deployed to the site and are conducting forensic investigations, obviously the prime minister’s thoughts remain with those who were affected by the incident.”