• 21 Aug, 2019

• By, Wikipedia

2024 Talerddig train collision
Units 158824 (top) and 158841 (bottom) were involved in the accident.
Details
Date	21 October 2024 (2024-10-21) 19:26 BST (18:26 UTC)
Location	Talerddig, Powys
Coordinates	52°35′27″N 3°35′00″W / 52.5909°N 3.5833°W / 52.5909; -3.5833 SH 9276 0045
Country	United Kingdom
Line	Cambrian Line
Operator	Transport for Wales Rail
Service	18:31 Shrewsbury–Aberystwyth 19:09 Machynlleth–Shrewsbury
Incident type	Head-on collision
Cause	Under investigation
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	1
Injured	15
Location diagram To Shrewsbury Route of Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth train Talerddig passing loop Collision Route of Machynlleth - Shrewsbury train To Machynlleth This diagram: view talk edit

On 21 October 2024, two passenger trains operated by Transport for Wales Rail were in a head-on collision approximately 800 metres (870 yd) west of Talerddig passing loop, Powys, United Kingdom. Fifteen people were injured, and one passenger subsequently died.

At 19:26 BST (18:26 UTC) on 21 October 2024, two passenger trains were involved in a head-on collision approximately 800 metres (870 yd) west of Talerddig passing loop, and near the village of Llanbrynmair in Powys, United Kingdom. The trains were the 18:31 service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 19:09 from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury. Fifteen people were taken to hospital with injuries, four of them serious, but all of which were described as not life-threatening or life-changing; one passenger subsequently died. He was reported to have had a heart attack. It was reported that the driver of one of the trains was able to warn passengers of the impending collision. The collision was reported to have occurred at approximately 24 km/h (15 mph).

Both trains were operated by Class 158 diesel multiple units. The units involved were 158824 and 158841. The accident occurred when the Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth service was unable to stop in the passing loop at Talerddig. It subsequently collided with the Machynlleth - Shrewsbury train. Unit 158824 sustained severe damage to one of its cabs.

The Welsh Ambulance Service, EMRTS Cymru, British Transport Police, Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and a Coastguard helicopter and Wales Air Ambulance helicopters attended the scene. The A470 was closed as a result of the accident. Passengers from the two trains continued their journeys by bus. The railway between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury was closed as a result of the accident. It was not expected to reopen until 28 October. The two trains were separated on 24 October and taken to Machynlleth by rail the next day.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is responsible for investigating railway accidents in the United Kingdom. A team of inspectors was despatched to the accident site. A formal investigation into the accident was opened on 22 October. The RAIB's initial inspection of the track found evidence of low wheel/rail adhesion. The possibility that the train may have suffered wheel slide while braking will be investigated. Investigators had completed their on-site investigations by 25 October.

• Abermule train collision, 1921 collision on the same line
• Severn Tunnel rail accident, 1991 collision, the most recent previous collision between passenger trains in Wales.
• 2021 Salisbury rail crash, previous most recent collision between passenger trains in the UK. Low rail adhesion conditions were a major factor.