How common are train crashes in Wales?

A man has died in a train crash near Llanbrynmair, Powys

A railway line in Powys has become the scene of Wales' only major train crash in recent years.

The collision, which happened on Monday night, saw two passenger trains collide near Llanbrynmair, and has resulted in the death of one man, with 15 others taken to hospital.

The single track railway line is part of the Cambrian Line, running Transport for Wales services from Shrewsbury in England, to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli in Wales.

But how many other major train incidents have happened in Wales?

When was the last rail crash in Wales?

The Severn Tunnel was the site of the last major rail crash in Wales

The last train crash in Wales happened in 1991 inside the Severn Tunnel which allows travel between England and Wales.

On 7 December, 1991, the 08:30 from London Paddington to Cardiff Central was stopped at a signal at the tunnel’s entrance.

The train’s driver was advised of a signal failure and told to proceed with caution, but about three miles into the tunnel, it was rear-ended by a class 155 Sprinter travelling from Portsmouth to Cardiff.

A total of 185 people were injured in the collision, five of whom were seriously hurt.

How common are rail crashes in the UK?

Train crashes such as the one near Llanbrynmair are thankfully uncommon

Rail crashes are rare in the UK, with trains considered one of the safest ways to travel.

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) reported zero passenger or workforce fatalities in train accidents between April 2023 and March 2024.

"Rail as a mode of travel is an order of magnitude safer than some of the journeys we take on the highways,” said Transport for Wales chief operations officer Jan Chaudhry-Van Der Velde.

"We have one of the safest railways in Europe".

One of the UK's most high-profile train accidents of last year was in September 2023, when the Flying Scotsman collided with stationary carriages at Aviemore Station in the Scottish Highlands, injuring two people.

What’s the worst train crash in Wales?

The 1868 Abergele rail disaster is Wales' worst crash, and at the time was the worst in the UK.

The Irish Mail train was on its way from London to Holyhead when it passed through Abergele.

However, the driver was unaware the line was blocked due to a complicated shunting operation.

A brake-van and six wagons loaded with paraffin were left uncoupled on a slope leading towards Abergele: a collision with other wagons caused these to be pushed downhill, into the path of The Irish Mail.

The casks of paraffin burst on impact, setting fire to the passenger train and killing 33 people.

What other rail incidents have happened in Wales?

In December 2011 a train with about 60 passengers was involved in a crash with a lorry and trailer at the Llanboidy level crossing on a minor road in Carmarthenshire.

Three people on the Milford Haven to Manchester service suffered minor injuries.

A freight train carrying diesel fuel was derailed in August 2020.

A Class 60 locomotive 60062 transporting 25 tank wagons was derailed as it passed through Llangennech, Carmarthenshire.

As a result of defective brakes, one of the train's axles seized, deforming the track underneath the train and causing it to become derailed.

Several of the tanks caught fire, and locals were forced to evacuate.

As the cargo wagons ruptured, 446,000 litres of diesel fuel were spilled in the surrounding area.

The Heart of the Valleys line was closed for seven months following the incident.

What do we know about the latest crash?

Investigations into the events leading up to the crash are ongoing

At about 19:30 BST on Monday, 21 October, 2024, two passenger trains crashed near Llanbrynmair in Powys.

A passenger in his 60s died - although not from injuries related to the crash - and 15 others were injured.

The trains were the 18:31 from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 19:09 from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury.

According to one local witness, the westbound train from Shrewsbury was unable to stop at the top of a gradient, and "slid" down towards the other train.

The Cambrian Line, where the collision took place, is a single track railway line which uses passing loops to allow two trains running in opposite directions to use the same track.

The crash is confirmed to have taken place at one of these passing loops.

An investigation into the events leading up to the crash is ongoing.