Train Runs into Lorry Stopped on Railway Level Crossing

The Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) is investigating a collision between a train and a lorry at Llanboidy level crossing, near Whitland, Carmarthenshire on 19 December 2011.

No Derailment and Light Injury List

A lorry on a level crossing near Whitland (South Wales) is thought to have caused a collision with a class 175 Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) Milford Haven to Manchester service.

The lorry was loaded with straw bales and towing a trailer also loaded with bales, stopped on the level crossing just before 09:45am on Monday 19 December 2011. The 09:10 hrs service from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly struck the lorry on the Llanboidy automatic half barrier (AHB) level crossing, located about 14 miles west of Carmarthen, Whitland.

The train remained on the rails but suffered serious damage to the driving cab and several passengers suffered minor injuries or shock as a result of the accident. One passenger became ill while the train was being evacuated but the lorry driver was not injured.

The RAIB’s preliminary examination has found that, with the crossing barrier on the exit side was lowered in front of the lorry when the class 175 two coach diesel multiple unit collided with it. The train’s emergency brake was applied at about 68 mph and reduced the speed to about 41 mph when the collision occurred.

The train (Number 175002) pushed the lorry about 80 metres along the railway and ATW said around 60 passengers were on board the train. Replacement buses ran between Whitland, Milford Haven and Fishguard as all train services west of Whitland were stopped for 36 hours.

There are many such crossings in west wales and several trespass incidents have been recorded in recent times. Perhaps the worst was in June 2010 on the Pembroke line when mass trespass took place to watch a steam hauled train from Bristol.

External Links

• Investigation Report
• Arriva Trains