Rail Investigation Finds Fatal Mid Wales Train Collision Could Have Been Prevented

A fatal train collision in mid Wales that claimed one life and left four people seriously injured could have been avoided, according to a new investigation.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has concluded that the head-on crash near Talerddig, Powys, in October 2024 was caused by a combination of low wheel-to-rail adhesion and failures involving the trains’ sanding systems, which are designed to improve grip during braking.

The collision occurred on the Cambrian Line shortly before 7pm on October 21, 2024, when two Transport for Wales trains failed to pass safely at the Talerddig Loop, a dual-track passing section on an otherwise single-track railway.

Investigators found that the train travelling towards Aberystwyth was unable to stop despite the brakes being fully applied. The train subsequently slid through the loop, re-entered the single-track section and collided head-on with an oncoming service from Shrewsbury.

Passenger David Tudor Evans, 66, from Ceredigion, died in the collision. Four other people suffered serious injuries, including the driver of the Shrewsbury-bound train.

The investigation found that neither the automatic nor manual emergency sanding systems were effectively used to improve wheel adhesion. The automatic system is believed to have failed due to an electrical fault, while the manual emergency sander was not activated by the driver.

According to the report, the driver was unaware the automatic system had not operated and later stated that using the emergency sander had not occurred to them at the time.

Adverse weather conditions also played a significant role. Earlier rainfall had left the rails damp, reducing traction between the train wheels and track. Investigators noted that moisture and leaf contamination can significantly reduce braking performance under such conditions.

At the point of impact, the Aberystwyth-bound train was travelling at approximately 24mph, while the driver of the opposing train had managed to reduce speed to around 6mph after receiving an emergency warning from the signaller.

The RAIB has issued nine recommendations aimed at improving railway safety. These include enhancements to train carriage crashworthiness, improvements to sanding system design and reliability, better management of wheel-rail adhesion risks and strengthened driver training for emergency situations.

The report also calls for all onboard railway staff to receive appropriate emergency response training, regardless of their specific role.

Reacting to the findings, long-time friend of the victim, Arfon Jones, said the tragedy should never have happened and called for accountability from those responsible for safety systems and operational procedures.

Passengers involved in the crash also described the traumatic aftermath. Bethan Evans, who was travelling home to Aberystwyth, said she was knocked unconscious and awoke to scenes of panic, injured passengers and emergency medical treatment being carried out inside the train.

Transport for Wales and Network Rail said they welcomed the publication of the report and would carefully consider its recommendations. Both organisations expressed condolences to the family of David Tudor Evans and those injured in the collision.

The rail operators added that while incidents of this nature are extremely rare, they remain committed to working across the industry to implement lessons learned and reduce the likelihood of a similar accident occurring in the future.