Train involved in fatal crash in Wales ‘entered wheel slide when braking’

Rail investigators suspect that a train involved in the first head-on crash in the UK this century, which resulted in the death of a passenger in his sixties, “might have experienced a wheel slide while braking.”

An additional 15 individuals received medical attention at the hospital following the accident that occurred on the mostly single-track Cambrian line between the Welsh villages of Talerddig and Llanbrynmair.

It seems that the train expected to halt couldn't manage to do so; however, the impact was gradual enough that neither of the trains went off the tracks.

One line of inquiry involves the presence of leaves on the tracks in this densely forested region. During the fall, Network Rail invests significant resources to remove plant debris from the railway lines, viewing leaves as a major hazard, much like black ice is for motorists.

Network Rail announced that its specialized train for removing leaves from the tracks ran as planned on Sunday.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reported that their first look at the tracks revealed signs of poor wheel-rail grip, indicating that the train might have experienced wheel slide during braking. They noted that this would continue to be a focus of their investigation.

The accident investigation team will look into the train's data recorder and review information from the railway's signaling and communication systems. The Cambrian line served as the test case for implementing digital signaling and train control technologies aimed at minimizing the risk of human mistakes.

Elwyn Vaughan, a councillor from Plaid Cymru in the area, stated: “There are designated spots for trains to pull over. Normally, one train stops there while the other goes by. The key issue is: why didn't that occur?”

There are a few different ideas out there. One aspect is the introduction of a new digital system designed to halt trains. So, did this system function properly, or were there any problems?

"Another issue we face is the leaves on the tracks, especially since there’s a steep slope in this area. There’s a significant trench in the rock here, and as the incline continues, if a train starts to slide, it will keep moving downhill."

Authorities indicated that a number of passengers may have sustained broken bones, but they assured that the injuries were not expected to have long-term effects on their lives.

A source from the rail industry, who claimed to have reviewed the incident log from the control center regarding the crash, reported that the train traveling west from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth experienced a slide at 22mph. It seems that the train was directed to enter the Talerddig loop but encountered what was described as an area of "contamination," likely consisting of leaves. As a result, it slid back out of the loop and onto the main line, directly into the path of an oncoming train.

25-year-old passenger Jonah Evans explained, “One train was halted, and the other one couldn’t slow down in time. The conductor had no way to move aside because there was a train blocking the path in front.”

"The driver rushed in and took a seat, warning us to prepare ourselves for a train collision. People were injured, some even lost their teeth and had broken ribs. Fortunately, since the driver gave us a heads-up about what was coming, we had a moment to brace ourselves."

Anthony Hurford, who was on his way to Shrewsbury, shared with the BBC, “The only word that keeps popping into my mind is ‘brutal.’ We were cruising along at what felt like 40, 50, or maybe even 60 mph, and then suddenly we came to a complete stop in an instant.”

For some reason, I managed to bend one of the legs of the table and pull it away from the bolts connected to the wall. In an instant, I found myself on the floor with my laptop scattered in front of me, completely baffled about what just occurred.

A resident near the train tracks in Talerddig recounted hearing a sudden loud noise followed by a grinding sound just as he was about to enjoy his dinner.

Peter Carson, 67, shared, "The noise was brief, just a few seconds. We often have military aircraft flying overhead, so at first, I assumed it was an aircraft in distress. I've come to understand that it was actually the sound of the trains applying their brakes."

Prior to the accident, Transport for Wales informed travelers that its trains were operating at slower speeds through Dovey Junction station, which is located just to the west of the crash location, due to the tracks being "very slippery."

The Cambrian line served as the test case for implementing digital signaling and train control technologies, specifically the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and the European Train Control System (ETCS).

In October 2017, the ERTMS system malfunctioned and resulted in four trains on the coastal segment of the Cambrian line not receiving important information about temporary speed limits. Fortunately, there were no accidents as a result of this issue.

During a press conference at the location on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Inspector Jonathan Cooze from the British Transport Police stated: “Unfortunately, a man in his 60s has lost his life due to the accident. We are currently looking into the details surrounding his death.”

Although he has not been formally identified, it is thought that he is not part of the railway team.

Network Rail states that when leaves fall on the tracks each autumn, they can create a slick coating on the rails.

In October 2021, a train crash in Salisbury resulted in injuries to fourteen individuals, following a delay in rail maintenance caused by ongoing engineering activities.