One person died after two passenger trains collided in Wales on Monday night; Severe disruption is expected to continue as a major emergency response continues. It has been confirmed that two passenger trains were involved in the incident.
In a multi-agency response, Dyfed-Powys Police officers as well as British Transport Police, Welsh Ambulance Service, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard and organizations from the rail industry were called to the train line just before 7.30pm.
The incident occurred near Llanbrynmair in Powys and the line remains closed and drivers are asked to avoid part of the A470.
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One person died
Just after 1am police confirmed a man had died following the collision. A statement from Dyfed Powys Police said: “Sadly we can now confirm that a man has died following the collision. Next of kin have been informed and his family is being supported by specialist officers.”
Another 15 people were hospitalized with injuries believed to be life-threatening or non-life-threatening. All other passengers have now been evacuated from both trains.
The statement said: “Our thoughts are with the individuals and families involved. Although we are no longer at the scene, we will continue to work with our emergency service colleagues and transport agencies as investigations into the incident continue.”
Two trains got confused
Two passenger services have been confirmed to be involved in the accident: the 18.31 Transport for Wales service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 19.09 Transport for Wales service from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury. A joint statement from Network Rail and Transport for Wales said: “Emergency services are responding to an incident near Llanbrynmair in Powys, Mid Wales, involving two trains: the 18.31 Transport for Wales service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Transport service for Wales from 19.09 Macyhnlleth to Shrewsbury.
“The line is closed while they are doing their job. Our main priority is the safety of our passengers and colleagues and we are doing everything we can to support emergency services as they respond to the incident. “We encourage passengers to pre-plan and check their journey before traveling through National Rail Surveys.”
The collision is not thought to have occurred at high speed
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Officers were called to the line near Llanbrynmair at 7.29pm on Monday, October 21, to reports of a low-speed train collision involving two trains. Paramedics, fire and rescue teams and Dyfed-Powys Police are attending. Everyone attended and The incident continues.”
Passenger described the ‘grave’ accident
Rail passenger Anthony Hurford said the word that kept coming to his mind was “brutal”.
He told the BBC: “We went from traveling at 40-50 miles per hour to zero in the blink of an eye. Somehow my body tilted the table and unscrewed the bolts attached to the wall. Suddenly I was on the floor with my laptop spread out in front of me, wondering what had happened.”
“We tried to stop at the lights, there’s a signal at the top of the hill, I think it was a crossing but for some reason the train didn’t stop. There must have been 30-40 people coming out of the fire. There were British Transport Police coming from Birmingham. There were three helicopters coming from north and south Wales. Three or so “I was checked by four different paramedics.”
Major emergency service response
A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said at 10.40pm: “We were called to an incident near Llanbrynmair in Powys at 7.34pm on Monday, October 21. Fire and rescue, Dyfed-Powys Police and British Transport Police are attending and responding to the incident. The incident continues.” A statement from Dyfed-Powys Police at around the same time added: “Dyfed-Powys Police are responding to an incident involving two trains on the line near Llanbrynmair, Powys. A call reporting a low-speed collision was made just before 7.30pm Paramedics responded. “Fire and rescue teams and British Transport Police are continuing the incident.”
Major disruption in railway services
Transport for Wales described the matter as an “operational incident”; This means all services between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth must be cancelled. The following statements were made in the statement: “There will be a serious interruption in services due to an operational incident in the Talerddig area. Emergency services and the Network Rail system are on site.
“Services between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth will be canceled until further notice, while rail replacement will be operational. Due to road closures we are unable to call Caersws station until further notice. Services between Machynlleth and Pwllheli will continue as normal. Please note that rail replacement may occur. Call emergency services on the main road due to delays and disruptions.”
National Rail also said an “operational incident” had occurred between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth, meaning all lines were currently closed. Rail replacement transport operates between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth and also between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.