Locals reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ and a ‘grinding noise’ before realising two trains had collided in a horrific crash that left one man dead and 15 others needing hospital treatment.
Emergency services raced to the scene near Llanbrynmair, Wales after a pair of passenger trains smashed into each other on the Cambrian line at 7.29pm last night.
The man who died was a passenger in his sixties, and is not believed to have been a member of rail staff, police have revealed.
A couple living close to the railway line in the village of Talerddig told how they heard a loud bang and a grinding noise as they sat down for their evening meal last night.
Pater Carson, 67, said: ‘The noise lasted a few seconds, I’m partly deaf so it must have been very loud.
‘We have a lot of military aircraft going over so at first I thought it was a plane in trouble.
‘I now realise it was the sound of the trains hitting the brakes in the collision.’
Tesco fuel station worker Mr Carson lives in a cottage less than half a mile from the scene of the crash on the Cambrian line that cuts across Mid-Wales.
He said: ‘We knew it was very serious by the number of emergency vehicles that turned up within minutes.
‘They’re police, ambulance and fire engines and three helicopters above. One landed in a field close to us.’
Mr Carson’s wife Karen, 66, added: ‘I’ve never seen so many emergency vehicles in one place.
‘We were told someone has died and we are feeling for him and the families of the injured people.’
Another villager added: ‘It’s a terrible shock, we are all feeling relieved that none of the others have life-threatening injuries.’
Chief Inspector Jonathan Cooze (CORR), of British Transport Police, said the circumstances leading to the death of a passenger are under investigation.
He said: ‘While formal identification has not taken place, he is not believed to be a member of rail staff. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones.
‘His next of kin have been informed and his family are receiving support from specialist officers.
‘A further 15 people were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
‘All other passengers were safely evacuated from the train.’
Speaking at the scene of the crash Chief Insp Cooze said police were working ‘at pace’ with other emergency services and the rail industry to ‘understand the circumstances leading up to the collision’.
He said the emergency services would continue to be present in the area of the crash in the coming days.
He added that police were called at 7.29pm on Monday night after reports of a low-speed collision between two trains.
Police, ambulance, fire service and the Coastguard were called to the scene near the village of Llanbrynmair, Powys, along with support from the rail industry.
Plaid Cymru councillor Elwyn Vaughan said the single track that runs past the village gets clogged up with leaves, a potential cause of the accident.
But he said: ‘I have been told that a dedicated leaf machine went through at lunchtime yesterday so that raises the question about what has happened here.
‘People on the train have described a sliding sensation and there is a steep incline on that section of line. If you started to slide it would be difficult to stop.
‘It’s a single track with a dedicated passing place, one train would pull in there to let the other one pass.
‘Everyone in the village knows about the pull-in and there have never been safety concerns about it.’
Cllr Vaughan added: ‘It is a shock to the community. I was at home and heard the sirens and police cars going by so I knew it was something substantial.
‘The turn out by the emergency services was substantial and impressive.’
The two trains could be seen, through trees and farmland, still upright on the main line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth.
The Cambrian Line is seen as a vital link cutting across Mid-Wales and connecting The Midlands to the West Wales coast.
There is no longer a police presence at the scene and all the other passengers were evacuated from both trains and taken home on rail replacement buses.
As a result of the crash, the line between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth has been closed.
The main A470 trunk road in Talerddig was also closed by police, and has not yet reopened.
Officers have told motorists to avoid the area and find alternative routes for their journey.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm one person has died following a collision between two trains, which occurred near Llanbrynmair in Powys yesterday evening.
‘A multi-agency response to the incident saw Dyfed-Powys Police officers, along with British Transport Police, Welsh Ambulance Service, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard and agencies from the rail industry called to the trainline at just before 7.30pm.
‘Sadly, we can now confirm a man has died following the collision. His next of kin have been informed and his family are being supported by specialist officers.
‘A further 15 people have been taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening or life changing.
‘All other passengers have now been evacuated from both trains. Our thoughts are with the people and families involved in this incident.
‘While we no longer have a presence at the scene, we will continue to work with our emergency services colleagues and transport agencies while enquiries into the incident are ongoing.’
Superintendent Andrew Morgan added: ‘We can sadly confirm a man has died following this evening’s incident. We extend our deepest sympathies to his loved ones, alongside everyone else impacted and specialist officers continue to provide support.’
‘British Transport Police are working at pace, along with our colleagues in emergency services and the rail industry, to understand the circumstances leading up to this collision. Residents will see an increased policing presence in the area in the coming days as a result.’
Network Rail said the two trains involved were the 6.31pm Transport for Wales service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 7.09pm Transport for Wales service from Macyhnlleth to Shrewsbury.
A witness told Cambrian News that a few people had suffered injuries on board his train and claimed one person had been airlifted to hospital.
He said: ‘There was a train that was stopped and the other train couldn’t stop.
‘The driver ran in and sat on a chair and said brace yourselves – we’re about to hit a train.
‘Someone lost their teeth, cracked ribs.’
Passengers from both trains were seen boarding replacement buses just after 11pm.
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 the 19.09 Transport for Wales service from Macyhnlleth to Shrewsbury.
‘The line is closed as they carry out their work. Our main priority is the safety of our passengers and colleagues, and we are doing all we can to support the emergency services as they respond to the incident.
‘We would encourage passengers to plan ahead and check journeys before travelling via National Rail Enquiries.’
Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan says her thoughts are with those involved in the rail collision.
Posting on X, she said: ‘My thoughts are with all those involved in the rail incident in Powys earlier this evening.
‘I would like to thank the emergency services for their response and have asked to be kept informed of any developments throughout the night.’