'158' unit hit in Cambrian Line collision was once damaged in level crossing incident

One of the Class 158 units involved in the Cambrian Line collision has previously been involved in an accident.

158824 was running the 1909 Machynlleth-Shrewsbury on October 21 when the 1831 Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth, formed of 158841, failed to stop in the passing loop at Talerddig and appeared to slide down the 1-in-56 gradient until it hit the eastbound service.

It marked the second time 158824 has been involved in a collision. In July 2008 it hit a vehicle on a level crossing between Wrexham and Shrewsbury and was out of service for seven months.

Both Transport for Wales-operated '158's are two-car diesel multiple units - a design that dates from 1989.

The units were 158824 (new in October 1991) and 158841 (new in February 1992) were were both built by BREL at its Litchurch Lane works in Derby.

Each car has a Perkins engine rated at 350hp, and they have a maximum speed of 90mph. They have corridor connections on the Driving cars to allow sets to work in multiple with one guard.

Owned by Angel Trains and based at Machynlleth depot, they were two of 24 units fitted with European Train Control System (ETCS) in 2009-10 for working on the Cambrian lines west of Shrewsbury to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth.

Currently the TfW Class 158 fleet (158818-841) makes up the only trains that can run on these lines. But the ‘158s’ are due to be retired soon and replaced by Class 197s, with 197003/022-041 already fitted with ETCS.

158823/829 have also both been involved in accidents on the Cambrian lines after hitting vehicles on the route’s numerous user-worked and level crossings.