Investigators say train involved in fatal crash may have slid while braking

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Our investigation is in its very early stages and an additional update will be available in the coming days once RAIB has gathered and analysed further evidence.” Network Rail said one of its railhead treatment trains – which tackle autumn leaf fall – ran along the line where the crash occurred on Sunday night. Railway engineer Gareth Dennis said modern safety systems on Britain’s railways mean there is “very little” that can cause a collision between two trains. Mr Dennis said a second potential reason could be that the European Train Control System, which is an in-cab digital signalling system designed to keep trains apart, “failed in some way”. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “Safety on our railways is my absolute priority and we are working at pace with Transport for Wales and Network Rail to understand what happened and how we can better prevent it going forward.” The last incident in which a passenger died following a collision on Britain’s railways was the derailment of a ScotRail train which hit a landslip in heavy rain in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, in August 2020, which resulted in the deaths of one passenger and two crew members.