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An investigation into a fatal head-on collision between two trains in mid-Wales has determined that the tragedy could have been prevented. The crash occurred in October 2024, near the village of Talerddig, Powys, resulting in the death of one passenger and serious injuries to four others. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) concluded that the collision might have been avoided if the automatic or manual sanding systems, which improve wheel adhesion on the rails, had been engaged.
The two trains involved were operated by Transport for Wales (TfW) and were traveling on the Cambrian Line, which is mainly single track except for a dual track section near the accident site known as the Talerddig Loop. The trains were scheduled to pass each other at this loop; however, the train heading towards Aberystwyth failed to stop despite fully applying its brakes. This train slid through the loop, returning to the single track and accelerating down a slope, ultimately colliding head-on with the train traveling toward Shrewsbury. At the moment of impact, the RAIB reported the Aberystwyth-bound train was moving at 24 mph, while the Shrewsbury train had slowed to 6 mph following a warning from the signaller.
RAIB’s investigation revealed that although both trains were equipped with two sanding systems—an automatic one designed to operate during braking and an emergency manual system—the automatic sander failed to function likely due to electrical faults, and the driver did not activate the manual system. The report highlighted that the driver was unaware that the automatic sander was not operational and “stated that it had not occurred to
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