DOOMED TRAIN
Terrified passengers recall heart-stopping moment driver ran from cab shouting ‘brace yourselves’ seconds before crash
Pictures from the scene showed emergency workers pouring over the crumpled trains to inspect the damage
TERRIFIED passengers have told of the heart-stopping moment they knew they were going to hit an oncoming train seconds before impact.
One passenger died and 15 others were rushed to hospital after two trains collided on a rural single track railway last night.
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The driver, who ran from his cab to warn a crash was imminent, was left bleeding from the head and a male passenger suffered a fatal heart attack after the low speed crash in Llanbrynmair, Wales.
It is understood the two trains were carrying 41 passengers and one was unable to stop due to suspected leaves on the track preventing it from braking.
Passenger Jonah Evans, 25, told The Sun Online: “There was a train that was stopped and the other train couldn’t stop.
“And the driver couldn’t get out the way with a train in front.
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“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.
“Because the driver told us it was happening, we could kind of get ready.”
A passenger on the Shrewsbury-bound train, Anthony Hurford, described the crash as “brutal”.
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He added: “Somehow my body bent the leg of a table and ripped it off its bolts attached to the wall.
"Suddenly I was on the floor with my laptop strewn ahead of me, wondering what the hell had happened.
"We tried to stop at the lights. At the top of the hill there's a signal that I guess would have been a passing place and for whatever reason the train wouldn't stop.
"There must have been 30/40 people from the fire service.
"There was British Transport Police who had come from Birmingham, there were three helicopters, people had come from north and south Wales as far as I'm aware. I was checked by three or four different medics."
The man who died was in his sixties, police have now revealed.
Chief Inspector Jonathan Cooze(CORR), of British Transport Police, said the circumstances leading to his death 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.”
The 18.31 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service was carrying 37 passengers when it hit the oncoming 19.09 Machynlleth to Shrewsbury train carrying four people at around 7.30pm.
Ambulances and a helicopter scrambled to the scene in Llanbrynmair, Powys, with pictures showing them working at the site.
Workers wearing headlights poured over the crumpled train to inspect the damage.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that one person had died in the horror smash - but did not reveal his identity.
They said: "We can confirm one person has died following a collision between two trains, which occurred near Llanbrynmair in Powys this 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 train line 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."
All services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury were suspended after the smash.
The "low speed" accident happened on the Cambrian line just outside Llanbrynmair in mid-Wales.
Network Rail engineers were also scrambled to the scene.
Helicopters hovered above the line and beamed light down for first responders, reports.
The A470 at Talerddig is also closed due to an "emergency incident", Dyfed Powys Police said.
Transport for Wales said: "Due to an emergency incident between Machynlleth and Caersws, rail replacement is in operation.
"However, we are unable to call at Caersws."
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British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to the line near Llanbrynmair at 7.29pm today to reports of a low-speed train collision involving two trains.
“Paramedics, Fire and Rescue, and Dyfed Powys Police are all in attendance and the incident is ongoing."
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