Train crash death cause remains unidentified

The cause of death of a man who died after a crash involving two trains has not been found yet, an inquest has heard.

David Tudor Evans, 66, from Capel Dewi in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, was travelling on a train from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth when it crashed into a stationary train on 21 October near Llanbrynmair, Powys.

Last week, Network Rail’s route director, Nick Millington, said the investigation was "complex" and it was "unable to speculate if leaves on the tracks contributed to the crash".

The inquest in Aberystwyth on Mr Evans, who was known as Tudor, has been adjourned.

Assistant coroner for Ceredigion Louisa Corcoran told the brief inquest in Aberystwyth Justice Centre that Mr Evans, known as Tudor, was identified at the scene by his wife, Rachel Evans.

Mr Evans had been travelling home from a holiday in Italy.

The two-train crash involved the 18:31 westbound service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 19:09 stationary train heading from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury.

Four others were seriously injured in the crash and a further 11 required hospital treatment, according to the Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB).

The RAIB and British Transport Police said their investigations were ongoing.

Officers were called at about 19:29, after reports of a low-speed collision near Llanbrynmair, Powys.

The RAIB said last week the condition of the track approaching the crash point meant "adhesion" between wheels and rails was low.

This, it said, suggested the Aberystwyth-bound train may have slid while braking, causing it to hit the Shrewsbury-bound stationary train at about 15mph (24 km/h).

An internal log of events showed the driver of the train for Aberystwyth reported they entered a loop where opposite travelling trains can pass each other as planned, but could not stop because of "railhead conditions".

This meant the train passed a stop signal.

A signaller instructed the oncoming train to stop but a crash could not be avoided.

A conductor on the train that slid banged his head and suffered a possible broken arm.

The driver of the other train suffered some bleeding. They were initially trapped in their cab because of damage.

At the inquest, Ms Corcoran said a post-mortem examination was in progress, and therefore no medical cause of death had yet been recorded.

She also said no pre-inquest date had been set "due to the complexity" of the investigation but that a date would be confirmed in due course.

The Cambrian Line was shut for a week after the crash, while Network Rail said its engineers looked at "immediate lessons" to stop any future crashes before reopening.

The line reopened on 28 October.

The A470, the main road connecting north and south Wales, was also closed in both directions near Caersws, with rail replacement services in operation.

Traffic Wales confirmed on the road had reopened on Friday, with both trains removed from the scene.

Mr Evans' family thanked people for "kind messages and support", and asked for privacy.