The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has made its first statement about Monday evening’s head-on collision at Talerddig, in which one man was killed and 15 other passengers injured. RAIB inspectors have been gathering evidence in a bid to discover how the two passenger trains came to meet on a single line section, about 800m west of the passing loop at Talerdigg. The down train, which apparently ran through the loop without stopping, was the 18.31 Transport for Wales service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth. The up train involved was the 19:09 from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury, also operated by TfW. The RAIB says initial evidence suggests that the collision occurred at approximately 24 km/h. Four of the 15 injured passengers are now known to have been seriously hurt. The information from the down train’s data recorder has been downloaded. The track has been inspected, witnesses interviewed and data from radio and signalling systems analysed. The RAIB’s initial inspection of the track near the collision point has found that wheel and rail adhesion was ‘relatively low’, suggesting that the train may have been affected by wheel slide when the driver applied the brakes to stop in the loop. The RAIB said it will be issuing a further update soon. The Office of Rail and Road has confirmed that HMRI inspectors are also at the scene. Meanwhile, a passenger on the down train told the BBC yesterday that the driver had tried to stop but the train still kept moving, which supports the RAIB’s suggestion that the wheels had lost at least some of their grip on the rails. Welsh cabinet transport secretary Ken Skates said: ‘I am extremely grateful to the emergency services who attended the scene and helped our passengers and staff. ‘The safety of our passengers and staff is, as always, our key priority. Transport for Wales are working closely with all agencies, including emergency services and Rail Accident Investigation Branch, to understand how this incident happened, and they will have my full support.’

A fatal head-on collision between two passenger trains in mid-Wales may have been caused by low rail adhesion due to fallen leaves. The trains collided last night at Talerddig at about 19.30. They were the 18.31 from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 19.09 from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury. One man was killed and 15 others are reported to have needed hospital treatment, although their injuries are not thought to have been critical. The man who died was a passenger on one of the trains. Emergency services have been at the scene all night, and railway inspectors from the Office of Rail and Road have been gathering evidence. Transport for Wales has also launched its own inquiry. The Cambrian line is closed east of Machynlleth, and replacement buses are running today. The accident was close to the Talerddig passing loop. Early reports say one of the trains did not stop in the loop and then collided with the train approaching from the other direction. Anthony Hurford, a passenger on the down train, told the BBC he felt ‘pretty shellshocked’. He continued: ‘The word that keeps coming to my head is just brutal really. Just going from, I don't know how fast we were going, maybe 40, 50, 60 miles an hour, to nothing in the blink of an eye. ‘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.’ He said the driver had tried to stop, but ‘for whatever reason the train wouldn't stop.’ Fallen leaves were blamed for a side collision between two trains on a junction at one portal of Salisbury tunnel on 31 October 2021, in which 14 people were hurt. The last fatal accident involving passengers on a British railway was the derailment of a ScotRail HST near Carmont in August 2020. A fatal head on collision also occurred on the Cambrian line near the former station of Abermule on 26 January 1921, in which 17 lives were lost. The accident was caused by a misunderstanding. The inquiry reported that one of the trains had been carrying the single line tablet for the previous section.

Transport secretary Louise Haigh was among more than 200 guests at the official opening of Derby’s Rail Campus, and during the event she emphasised that major railway reforms are already under way. Yesterday’s opening follows the recent creation of Shadow Great British Railways, which is to be based at Derby, and where the GBR Transition Team is already at work. The city is traditionally described as the largest hub of rail-related businesses in Europe, and the Campus is the result of a joint effort between Derby City Council, the Great British Railways Transition Team, East Midlands Combined County Authority, and other stakeholders. The transport secretary said the city would play a key role in transforming the railways: ‘Derby is already a hub for rail with the largest concentration of innovation and expertise in Europe, and today I was delighted to see how the local council plans to expand this even further through a new Rail Campus,’ she said. ‘The lack of political leadership on rail has left an industry more comfortable looking inwards, that fails to pull together when things go wrong, that has lost focus on improving each part of people’s experience with the railways – so passengers don’t get the journeys they deserve. ‘The railways are at the centre of our plans for change, and I look forward to seeing how the Campus will lead to greater innovation, growth and collaboration, benefiting not only our rail network but the wider economy too.’ Derby City Council leader Councillor Nadine Peatfield added: ‘This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Derby; one that will create more training and jobs for local people, and bring huge opportunities for further regeneration. ‘Rail Campus Derby will not only preserve our rail heritage, but will also be a catalyst for future economic growth, bringing together all aspects of the railway industry, attracting more investment, and creating further opportunities for collaboration across the sector. ‘I know the potential that Derby has. We already boast an incredibly skilled workforce and are home to major players and an unrivalled rail sector. By working together we can make Rail Campus Derby the beating heart of the rail network.’

Reports this morning claim that the government is set to partly reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel HS2 north of the West Midlands, by building Phase 2A to Crewe. It is said that the Prime Minister could announce the change of heart in the New Year. Legal powers to build this section already exist, and land has been acquired in many places. The report, which first appeared on LBC, follows advice last week from the High Speed Rail Group that completing HS2 to Euston and also restoring the section between the West Midlands and Crewe could make the line much more valuable to a potential concession-holder. The Group includes major contractors like Hitachi, Alstom and Siemens and is supported by the high speed rail lobby group Greengauge21. It says the full route could be worth £20 billion to a leaseholder, but much less if the line only connects Old Oak Common with Birmingham, and that the difference could more than pay for the Euston section, which could also be revived. HS1 is already leased until 2040, and the Group says a similar model could be applied on HS2. A separate scheme had also been suggested by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who have put forward a proposal to build a less ambitious line with a lower speed, which could cut costs by as much as 40 per cent. The reports that Phase 2A could go ahead after all have already attracted critics like the right-wing TaxPayers’ Alliance. Its chief executive John O’Connell said: ‘A decision to reverse changes to HS2 would only further derail the public finances, all for the sake of a massive white elephant that taxpayers simply can’t afford. ‘The case for HS2 has long since been torn to shreds by uncontrollable costs, changes to rail usage and the much greater need for investment in alternative projects. ‘If Labour want to fill the black hole in the budget they’d be better off pulling the plug on the whole scheme.’  The Department for Transport has not commented on the latest claims in detail, saying only: ‘Transport is an essential part of the Government’s mission to rebuild Britain and grow our economy. We are committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, working with local leaders to do so.’

Members of the RMT and ASLEF on London Underground are set to strike during November unless an agreement can be reached over pay. The RMT said a pay offer is ‘wholly inadequate’, and many staff will continue to be excluded from collective bargaining. RMT staff will stage various stoppages between 1 and 8 November. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘London Underground’s pay offer falls short of what our members deserve. It  threatens to remove collective bargaining for a growing portion of staff, pushing them into pay bands that are decided solely by management. This undermines our members’ rights and the core principles of fair negotiation. ’No trade union can accept any pay proposal where management decide which of our members gets a pay rise and those who do not.’ The strikes will involve train operators, instructors, managers and other staff, and ASLEF members are set to walk out 7 and 12 November. Engineering staff will strike separately for 24 hours from 18.00 on 1 November. ASLEF organiser Finn Brennan said: ‘We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.’ TfL said talks had been held in ‘good faith’, continuing: ‘We have held several constructive discussions with our trade unions and, after considering their feedback, have made a revised offer with an average uplift of 4.6 per cent, which rewards our staff for their hard work and benefits the lowest-paid staff the most. ‘Our offer is fair for our people and affordable for London, and we urge our unions to continue working with us to support London and the wider economy.’ Railnews understands further talks are to be held next week.

The Alliance agreement between ScotRail and Network Rail has been updated, and railway chiefs are hailing it as a ‘great opportunity’. The original agreement dates back to 2015, when Abellio had the ScotRail franchise. This changed in 2020 as a result of the Covid pandemic, and was ended in 2022 when the Scottish Government used a ‘break point’ in the contract to terminate it. As a result the former franchise was nationalised, while Network Rail passed wholly to the public sector in 2014 and is set to change again when Great British Railways takes over nearly all rail infrastructure. Meanwhile, the new agreement sets out the priorities for investment by Network Rail Scotland, and several projects require closer working between the two bodies. Work is also being carried out to identify specific areas where greater integration will provide a better service. The outcome of this work will be reported to the Alliance Executive by the end of March 2025. Oversight will be provided by the Alliance Board, which consists of representatives from ScotRail, Network Rail, ScotRail’s owner Scottish Rail Holdings and Transport Scotland. ScotRail managing director Joanne Maguire said: ‘The best way to deliver a safe, reliable, and green railway in Scotland is for ScotRail and Network Rail to work together as much as possible, while recognising that we remain two separate companies. ‘The signing of a strengthened Alliance Agreement is a great opportunity to work even more closely with Network Rail. We are committed to greater integration to ensure the best possible service for our passengers and freight customers.’ Network Rail Scotland managing director Liam Sumpter added: ‘Through taking more opportunities to work together and collaborate, we can continue to develop a safer and more reliable railway.’

Northern says trials of a different style of train driving show that fuel consumption could be cut by 7 per cent, potentially saving £3 million a year. The train operator has been working with specialists from Chrome Angel Solutions and auticon, who have developed a model to calculate the best speed and braking patterns. The output of the model is then used to help train drivers change their driving styles to use less fuel while keeping trains on time. Northern says early tests between Whitby and Middlesbrough identified the potential 7 per cent saving in fuel consumption, with the added benefit of an equal reduction in CO2 emissions. Northern pays around £50 million a year for diesel, and so in theory the state-owned operator could save £3 million or more annually, although the precise benefits are likely to vary on different routes. The tests have now been extended to the routes between Darlington and Bishop Auckland and Darlington and Saltburn, Newcastle and Hexham, Nunthorpe and Kildale, and Seaham and Middlesborough. The original test route from Whitby stays in the trials, but has been extended from Middlesbrough to Newcastle. Northern’s strategic development director Rob Warnes said: ‘Along with the rest of the rail industry, Northern is working towards phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040. ‘However, with only 25 per cent of our network electrified, diesel trains remain integral to our operation and, as such, we want to make sure we operate them in the most fuel-efficient way. ‘This has been a fascinating, year-long project and it’s great to see the proof on concept realised so that we can now expand trials and build the case for implementation.’

The chancellor should freeze rail fares next year, and make the announcement in the Autumn Budget at the end of this month, according to the Campaign for Better Transport. The charity also wants the £2 single bus fare cap to continue, instead of ending next month. The CBT pointed out that between 1997 and 2022, using RPI as a measure, the cost of using and owning a motor vehicle increased by 94 per cent, while rail fares have increased by 151 per cent and bus and coach fares by 227 per cent. If next year’s increase in regulated rail fares is based on the RPI in July, they would go up by 3.6 per cent. They were increased by 4.9 per cent in March this year, although this was only just over half the measure of RPI in July 2023, which was 9 per cent. Silviya Barrett from the CBT said: ‘Millions of people who rely on buses and trains are likely to see their fares go up next year, yet keeping public transport affordable helps boost the economy and reduces carbon emissions. Drivers have enjoyed a 14-year fuel duty freeze, so it’s about time public transport passengers were given the same treatment. At the moment, it can be cheaper to drive or fly than take public transport and that shouldn’t be the case.’ The Autumn Budget speech is due on 30 October.

Better value claim The lobby group Rail Partners is claiming that private rail operators are better value for taxpayers. In its latest newsletter, RP highlights payments to the Treasury from operators worth £3.8 billion between 2010 and 2019, although this figure does not take into account the direct grants made to Network Rail, which reduced track access charges paid by operators. Rail Partners is calling for the passenger railway to be operated through concessions, which is the model used by Transport for London, rather than nationalised outright. Meanwhile, the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill has reached committee stage in the House of Lords, after receiving its second reading two days ago. Belfast central station opening Belfast’s new central station is to open on Sunday. Translink has confirmed that the the first train to depart from Belfast Grand Central will be an Enterprise service to Dublin at 08.05, and the first train to arrive will be the 08.30 from Portadown, due in at 09.15. Translink has described Grand Central as ‘the largest integrated travel hub on the island of Ireland’, with eight platforms and 26 bus stands. The station has been designed to cater for up to 20 million journeys a year.  Leaf fall timetables Train operators are warning that the times of some trains will be changed slightly, as leaf fall timetables come into force. Southeastern said some of its services will depart a few minutes earlier from Sunday, and that it has been estimated that 50 million leaves fall on to the railway in the south east of England alone each autumn.