A second railway worker who was hit and killed by a passenger train has today been named after it emerged the colleague he died alongside was set to retire.
Michael ‘Spike’ Lewis, 58, has been identified by police as the other victim struck by the Swansea to Paddington train near Margam, south Wales.
Gary Delbridge, 64, known as ‘Gazza’ from Kenfig Hill, South Wales, was named yesterday and was described as a much loved family man.
It’s believed they were wearing ear defenders while working on the line near Port Talbot steelworks at 10am on Wednesday.
They failed to hear the approaching Great Western Railway passenger train and both were killed instantly.
The family of Mr Lewis, from North Cornelly, Bridgend, said today in a statement issued by the British Transport Police: ‘He was known by everyone, and loved by everyone,’ and they thanked people for their support ‘during this difficult time.’
Gary Delbridge, 64, from Kenfig Hill, South Wales, pictured with his wife Carol
The other victim was named today as Michael ‘Spike’ Lewis, from North Cornelly
Mr Delbridge’s family were too heartbroken to comment at the smart mid-terrace house where Gareth and wife Carol have lived for 40 years.
Neighbours said he was due to retire soon.
One said: ‘The village has lost a great character, he was a smashing bloke who always had a smile his face.
‘He was a hard-working man, very fit for his age, I would see him going off to work most mornings.
‘But he was looking forward to retiring, he wasn’t far off. It’s so cruel this happened now.
‘Everyone is shocked and upset by what’s happened – there should be a full inquiry.’
Mr Delbridge (pictured) who worked on the railways most of his life, was described as a much loved family man, and was a popular member of Kenfig Hill RFC
A third man survived but needed treatment for shock and after seeing his two workmates killed.
Gareth and wife Carol were adventurous and loved to travel – they have visited India and Mexico in recent years and had other trips in the pipeline.
Lifelong friend Gary Chappell said: ‘I’ve known Gareth for over 50 years, his brother Colin is a very good friend of mine as well.
‘He was genuinely a lovely guy. People say that when someone dies but he was. He always had a hello for everybody and a beaming smile..
‘He was a bit of a joker, if he could take the mickey out of you he would. But he would never pass you without saying hello.’
The two men, aged 58 and 64, were wearing ear defenders and could not hear the Great Western Railway service between Bridgend and Port Talbot approaching when they were hit
A talented sportsman in his younger days, Mr Delbridge was a member of Kenfig Hill rugby club where he was in the darts team.
The club is planning a memorial event in his honour.
Club director John Hyde, said: ‘Gareth was always happy and joyful.
‘He loved his darts and had been involved with the club for 30 years as a member of the darts’ team.’
A tribute on the club’s Facebook page described Mr Delbridge as ‘a true gentleman’.
Another neighbour said: ‘They were devoted to each other, just a very happy couple.
‘They lived all their lives here, had three children and quite a few grandchildren.
‘I feel desperately sorry for Carol. I don’t know how she will get over it.
Passengers told of their shock when their GWR train running from Swansea to London Paddington came to an abrupt stop outside Port Talbot Parkway station.
One 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.’
Passenger Adrian Young told MailOnline his daughter Ffion, 15, was on the train this morning with her class at Ffynone House School in Swansea going to London.
He said they were held on the train for six hours, and children were told to turn off phones – before being urged not to look behind them when getting off.
The scene of the crash in Wales where two rail workers died after being hit by the train today
Passengers were unaware at first that the train had hit anything, because there was no bump or noise before it came to a sudden halt a few miles east of Port Talbot.
Children are told ‘Don’t look’ as they are led to safety from train
Ffion Young, 15, was on the train today
Children aboard the train that ran into and killed two track engineers were told ‘Don’t look’, as they were led to safety.
A group of 30 pupils aged between 13 and 17 were on the train which ploughed into the men on the mainline between Swansea and Cardiff.
They were on a school trip to see the musical Mama Mia in the West End when they were caught up in the tragedy.
After almost six hours on the hot and stuffy train they were led off by police into waiting coaches.
Businessman Adrian Young, 56, whose daughter Ffion, 15, was on the train, said: ‘As all the children got off they were told not to look behind.
‘It was very upsetting for them but obviously our main concern is for the men who died in this tragedy and their families.
‘I don’t know why they were told that but obviously it was to protect them from seeing something awful in the vicinity of the front of the train. The ambulances were still there at the time.’
Ffion, a pupil at Ffynone House private school in Uplands, Swansea, had a ‘family and friends’ tracker on her mobile phone so her parents could monitor her 170-mile train journey to London.
Mr Young, who runs a security company, said: ‘We could see her journey had come to a sudden stop and assumed she had turned her phone off. But we later discovered what had happened.
‘It turns out that the train stopped after the accident but none of the passengers knew why. The children were sitting there paying cards unaware of what happened until they heard sirens and saw the ambulances.
‘We had a call to say Ffion and the children were safe and had been given water, crisps and snacks, whatever was on the train at the time. After five hours and 45 minutes they were allowed to get off.’
Ffion, who has just finished her GCSEs, and her school friends continued their journey to Cardiff by bus before getting on a London-bound train.
Mr Young praised the four teachers with the group for keeping everyone calm and relaying reassuring messages to the school and worried parents.
He said: ‘Everyone did their best in the midst of an awful tragedy – we are all feeling for the families of the men involved.’
Another person on the train said: ‘Police have been on the train checking we are OK. Everyone at this end seems OK. Staff have given free water and drinks to everyone.’
Passengers on the train had initially been told they would be stuck for more than two hours while the emergency services work at the scene.
British Transport Police have confirmed the two men who died were from Bridgend, Carwyn Jones AM said on Twitter.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there will be an investigation into how this accident happened, adding: ‘I will ensure lessons are learned.’
The investigation is now underway into what caused the fatal crash, but it has been claimed that signal workers were unaware workers were on the line.
One railway worker said: ‘The driver immediately called in the accident saying he had struck the workers and ambulances were called.
‘A signal worker didn’t know that they were there. It could be that they hadn’t notified the right people. There have been a lot of near misses on the tracks recently.’
The two engineers were based at a maintenance depot just five miles down the line at Margam, and are believed to have been employed directly by Network Rail.
Sub-contractor maintenance workers doing a similar job can earn up to £400 a shift, due to the dangers posed by trains passing at speeds of more than 100mph.
A maintenance engineer, who has worked on the same stretch of track, said: ‘It can be very dangerous, there have been previous tragedies.
‘The rail gangs tend to come from the South Wales valleys and Merthyr Tydfil areas. Lads can pick up a lot of money but it’s very risky work. It’s danger money.
‘These boys would have been working out of the maintenance yard at Port Talbot, they could have just started their shift. It’s a terrible tragedy.’
A man who said he worked at the nearby Tata steelworks said: ‘I didn’t see a great deal, by the time I got close paramedics were giving one of the workers CPR, but he sadly passed away. The other worker had already passed away.’
The collision resulted in cancellations or delays of up to 90 minutes for passengers in South Wales this morning, with replacement buses put on to get people around.
Constituency MP Stephen Kinnock said: ‘I’m very concerned to see reports of the tragic accident on the rail line between Bridgend and Port Talbot.
‘I understand that there may have been two fatalities. This is awful news, and my thoughts are with the families of all concerned.’
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said: ‘This is shocking news. RMT is attempting to establish the full facts but our immediate reaction is that this is an appalling tragedy and that no-one working on the railway should be placed in the situation that has resulted in the deaths that have been reported this morning.
Emergency service workers responded after two railway workers died in South Wales today
It has been claimed that signal workers were unaware workers were on the line this morning
‘As well as demanding answers from Network Rail and a suspension of all similar works until the facts are established, the union will be supporting our members and their families at this time. Our thoughts are with those involved in this incident and their loved ones.’
Some GWR services will be diverted around the area and not call at stations between Bridgend and Port Talbot Parkway until at least 2pm, according to officials.
Superintendent Andy Morgan said: ‘We are making a number of urgent enquiries to understand exactly what happened in the moments leading to this fatal collision.
‘Very sadly two people have died and my officers are now working to identify them and ensure that their families are supported at this incredibly difficult time.’
Police investigate at the scene of the crash near Port Talbot Parkway station this morning
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association called for an investigation into the deaths, with its general secretary Manuel Cortes saying something had gone ‘badly wrong’.
He said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who have tragically lost their lives and have been injured.
‘Their families, friends and their colleagues are also in our thoughts. It’s too early to speculate about what has happened but clearly something has gone badly wrong.
‘As ever our amazing emergency services were quickly on the scene and we pay tribute to their work.
The men were hit by the Great Western Railway train between Bridgend and Port Talbot today
‘There must now be a full investigation because it is simply not acceptable that in the 21st century people go out to work and end up losing their lives.’
A British Transport Police spokesman said officers were ‘called to the railway close to Port Talbot in South Wales following a report of a train striking persons on the tracks’.
They added: ‘Paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service are also on scene. Very sadly two persons have been pronounced dead at the scene.’
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed. A GWR spokesman said: ‘Emergency services are dealing with an incident between Port Talbot and Pyle.
Passengers were unaware at first that the train had hit anything, because there was no bump
Passengers told of their shock when their train came to an abrupt stop outside Port Talbot
‘Commuters should be aware that services are disrupted while they are emergency services are on site and are dealing with the incident.’
A Network Rail spokesman said: ‘There has been an incident whereby people have been hit by a train. The incident is still ongoing. The line is closed.’
The Welsh Ambulance Service added: ‘We were called at approximately 9.58am to reports of a collision between a train and two people in the Port Talbot area.’
Paramedics responded with two rapid response vehicles, two ambulances, two vehicles from the hazardous area response team and an air ambulance vehicle.
Emergency services at the scene between Bridgend and Port Talbot after the collision today
Paramedics sent two rapid response vehicles and two ambulances among other vehicles
Bill Kelly, from Network Rail Wales, said: ‘We are shocked and distressed to confirm that two members of our team lost their lives today in an accident involving a train.
‘We do not know the details behind this dreadful accident and we are fully cooperating with the British Transport Police and Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
‘Our thoughts are with the families of our colleagues and our members of staff who will be affected by this tragic loss, and we will provide all the support we can.’
Four track maintenance workers were killed near the Severn Tunnel in February 1985 when they were hit by a train.
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