TRAIN HORROR
Two rail workers killed by train near Port Talbot in Wales were wearing ear defenders and could not hear it approaching
TWO rail workers who died after being hit by a train near Port Talbot in Wales this morning were wearing ear defenders and couldn't hear it approaching them.
British Transport Police (BTP) said the men, aged 58 and 64, died after being struck by the passenger train.
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A third person was treated for shock, but was uninjured after the horror collision just before 10am between Port Talbot Parkway and Bridgend railway stations.
Paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service rushed to the scene, tragically confirming two people had died.
Network Rail was facing demands for answers last night as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced an investigation into the deaths near Port Talbot, South Wales.
Superintendent Andy Morgan from British Transport Police, said: “Following a number of urgent enquiries into this tragic incident, it has been established that the three people were railway workers who were working on the lines at the time.
Initial stages of the investigation suggest that the two men who died had been wearing ear defenders at the time, tragically, could not hear the a passenger train approaching.
Superintendent Andy Morgan, British Transport Police,
“The initial stages of the investigation suggest that the two men who died had been wearing ear defenders at the time, tragically, could not hear the a passenger train approaching.
“We have a number of officers who remain in the area and we are continuing to work alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to understand the full circumstances of what happened in the moments before this incredibly sad, fatal collision."
The 58-year-old man was from North Connelly and the 64-year-old man was from Kenfig Hill.
Both men's families have been informed.
A passenger on board the train, which had left Swansea at 9.29am, said the train came to an abrupt stop moments after leaving Port Talbot Parkway.
He said there was a lot of shock amongst passengers as the Great Western service train came to a standstill.
He said: "We weren’t sure what was happening, but a train manager came through the train and said the railway workers had been hit by the train. We are still on the train and have been told that we are understandably going to be here for some time.
"We can see a large number of emergency service vehicles at the scene."
POLICE PROBE
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch have been notified.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident between Port Talbot and Pyle. Two inspectors are now travelling to site gather evidence."
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called on Wednesday 3 July at approximately 09:58 to reports of a collision between a train and two people in the Port Talbot area.
"We responded with two rapid response vehicles, two ambulances, two vehicles from the Hazardous Area Response Team and were supported by a vehicle of the Wales Air Ambulance."
Network Rail said they were unable to comment but were working with police.
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A statement said: "There is no firm estimate available as to when the line will reopen, however, we anticipate trains will remain disrupted until 2pm."
They added that trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.
Some Great Western Railway services will be diverted via an alternative route and not call at stations between Bridgend and Port Talbot Parkway.
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