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The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in west London kills 31 people

The Ladbroke Grove rail crash (also known as the Paddington rail crash) occurred on 5 October 1999 at Ladbroke Grove in London, England, when a Thames Trains passenger train passed a signal at...

The Ladbroke Grove rail crash (also known as the Paddington rail crash) occurred on 5 October 1999 at Ladbroke Grove in London, England, when a Thames Trains passenger train passed a signal at danger, colliding almost head-on with a First Great Western passenger train. With 31 people killed and 417 injured, it was one of the worst rail accidents in 20th-century British history.

It was the second major crash on the Great Western Main Line in just over two years, the first being the Southall rail crash of September 1997, several miles west of this crash. Both crashes would have been prevented by an operational automatic train protection (ATP) system, wider fitting of which had been rejected on cost grounds.

Historical Significance

The Ladbroke Grove rail crash (also known as the Paddington rail crash) occurred on 5 October 1999 at Ladbroke Grove in London, England, when a Thames Trains passenger train passed a signal at danger, colliding almost head-on with a First Great Western passenger train.

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Events After

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 5, 1999?
The Ladbroke Grove rail crash (also known as the Paddington rail crash) occurred on 5 October 1999 at Ladbroke Grove in London, England, when a Thames Trains passenger train passed a signal at danger, colliding almost head-on with a First Great Western passenger train. With 31 people killed and 417 injured, it was one of the worst rail accidents in 20th-century British history. It was the second major crash on the Great Western Main Line in just over two years, the first being the Southall rail crash of September 1997, several miles west of this crash.
Why is The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in west London kills 31 people significant?
The Ladbroke Grove rail crash (also known as the Paddington rail crash) occurred on 5 October 1999 at Ladbroke Grove in London, England, when a Thames Trains passenger train passed a signal at danger, colliding almost head-on with a First Great Western passenger train.

Explore More

October 5 in HistoryYear 1999