A Rail Accident Investigation Branch report says a train crash near Talerddig could have been avoided if sanding systems had been activated. The collision on 21 October 2024 killed Tudor Evans, who was travelling home from a holiday in Italy, and seriously injured four other people.
It happened just before 19:00 on the Cambrian Line, where most of the route is single track and trains meet in passing loops. The report found that both trains were fitted with automatic and emergency sanding systems, and that one or both of them should have prevented the collision.
Report 08/2026: Collision between two passenger trains near Talerddig
Transport for Wales operated both trains, which were meant to pass each other in the Talerddig Loop. The train heading towards Aberystwyth could not stop even with the brakes fully applied, slid through the loop, rejoined the single-track section and struck the train heading towards Shrewsbury head on after going down a slope.
At the point of impact, the Aberystwyth train was travelling at 24mph and the Shrewsbury train at 6mph. Tudor Evans was 66 years old. The driver of the Shrewsbury train was also seriously injured and was trapped while leaving the cab when the crash happened.
Transport for Wales and Network Rail
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch issued nine recommendations after its investigation. Transport for Wales and Network Rail said they would consider the report's recommendations and described incidents of this nature as "extremely rare".
The practical question for passengers and staff is whether the train's sanding systems were ready to do the job when the wheel slip started. The report says they were fitted; the collision still happened, and the two train operators now have nine recommendations to work through that point by point with the report's aim to "help prevent a similar incident".
