Collision with tractor near Leominster (22/05/25)

[The exile]

If you go after them individually they will be advised to declare bankruptcy

Likewise the employment agency will liquidate and recommence the following day under a new name serving the same contracts.

All liabilities resulting from criminal acts should be “exempt” from bankruptcy provisions - ie lifelong liability.

 

[Egg Centric]

All liabilities resulting from criminal acts should be “exempt” from bankruptcy provisions - ie lifelong liability.

Sounds good in principle, in practice why would anyone rehabilitate themselves if they're going to just be working for free anyway? The ones with particular drive will emigrate instead but ironically they're the ones that we'd want to keep

 

[Towers]

Is there no legal position requiring a person using a railway crossing for commercial purposes to have appropriate insurance? That seems a bizarre omission if so! I appreciate that they may well own the land pretty much up to the ballast either side, but it’s one heck of an expensive bit of somone else’s property that they’re crossing in the middle!

 

[Egg Centric]

Is there no legal position requiring a person using a railway crossing for commercial purposes to have appropriate insurance? That seems a bizarre omission if so! I appreciate that they may well own the land pretty much up to the ballast either side, but it’s one heck of an expensive bit of somone else’s property that they’re crossing in the middle!

A farmer will have business insurance, any vehicle used on the road will have vehicle insurance. For foot crossings, almost everyone will have third party liability insurance as part of their household insurance (and only morons don't have that). So I don't think a serious concern.

 

[enginedin]

We don’t know who has been arrested yet. It could be the signaller (see Redcar!).

Quite - people shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. There's no evidence to show it's the tractor driver, the signaller, the train driver, or any 3rd party

 

[ainsworth74]

Sounds good in principle, in practice why would anyone rehabilitate themselves if they're going to just be working for free anyway? The ones with particular drive will emigrate instead but ironically they're the ones that we'd want to keep

I struggle to see a scenario in which any recovery of a debt, even that in the millions, wouldn't be a proportion of income rather than someone's entire income! It would mean you're effectively locked into paying a higher rate of tax for your entire life for sure but you'll still be better off working, earning and paying it back as a proportion of your wages than say never working again and trying to scrape by on Universal Credit.

That being said it's usually things like personal injury compensation that you owe (though that can be discharged at the discretion of a judge) or court fines that can't be discharged by bankruptcy. So I'm not convinced that if say the tractor driver had no cover from any insurance and was landed with a multimillion pound bill they wouldn't be able to discharge it via bankruptcy. Now court fines or compensation to injured parties they might still be on the hook for but that's likely to be a much smaller figure than Network Rail's costs.

 

[Mag_seven]

Quite - people shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. There's no evidence to show it's the tractor driver, the signaller, the train driver, or any 3rd party

On that note I think its best to allow the RAIB to investigate - we will reopen the thread when any findings are published.

Thanks all

Edit: another photo courtesy of @frodshamjct :


Update: The line through the area was re-opened for traffic late afternoon on Friday 23rd May 2025.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/25188282.rail-line-reopens-herefordshire-train-crash/

This afternoon (May 23), a joint statement from Transport for Wales and Network Rail said: "The mainline between Hereford and Shrewsbury has now reopened following a collision between a train and a tractor trailer on the track near Leominster yesterday (Thursday, 22 May).

"Customers should continue to check before they travel and rugby fans travelling to the events in Cardiff this weekend are advised to allow extra time for their journey.

 

[ainsworth74]

Brief update from the RAIB this morning which includes confirmation the tractor driver did use the telephone:

Collision between a train and an agricultural trailer at Nordan Farm user worked level crossing​

Investigation into a collision between a passenger train and an agricultural trailer at Nordan Farm user worked level crossing, near Leominster, Herefordshire, 22 May 2025.

At around 10:37 on 22 May 2025, the 08:30 Transport for Wales passenger service from Manchester to Cardiff struck a loaded agricultural trailer which was being hauled by a tractor across Nordan Farm user worked level crossing, near to Leominster. RAIB’s initial analysis indicates that the train was travelling at around 80 mph (129 km/h) when it struck the trailer. As a result of the collision, the trailer parted from the tractor and became wedged on the front of the train. The train then ran for around 500 metres under braking before it came to a stand.

The train did not derail as a result of the accident but its leading vehicle, a driving van trailer, and some of the leading passenger coaches suffered damage. Of the 66 passengers and 8 staff on board, 6 passengers were reportedly treated for minor injuries. The tractor driver was uninjured. Damage was also caused to the trailer that was struck by the train and to track, lineside equipment and a second level crossing located beyond Nordan Farm.

Nordan Farm user worked crossing is fitted with telephones. Users are directed by signs at the crossing to use the telephones to obtain permission from the signaller before opening the crossing gates and crossing the railway. The evidence available to RAIB shows that the driver of the tractor involved in this accident telephoned the signaller before using the crossing.

Our investigation will determine the sequence of events that led to the accident and will include consideration of:

• the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them
• any previous incidents at Nordan Farm user worked crossing and how these may be relevant to this accident
• the management of risk at this crossing and Network Rail’s wider strategy for assessing and mitigating risks at user worked crossings
• any relevant underlying factors.

Collision between a train and an agricultural trailer at Nordan Farm user worked level crossing

Investigation into a collision between a passenger train and an agricultural trailer at Nordan Farm user worked level crossing, near Leominster, Herefordshire, 22 May 2025.

www.gov.uk

We'll keep the thread locked for now particularly as there are live investigations ongoing.