A LARGE yacht caused chaos after crashing into Barmouth Bridge.

On Monday evening, coastguard and RNLI staff battled with a 34-foot vessel which had slipped its moorings and smashed into the 150-year-old wooden viaduct.

Trains had to be temporarily stopped from crossing the bridge as there were fears there might have been structural damage which could have potentially put rail passengers at risk.

Rail services between the town and Machynlleth were replaced by buses when the collision was reported just before 6.30pm, which saw passengers facing two-hour delays.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We received a report from Holyhead Coastguard that a yacht had slipped its moorings and had struck the bridge at Barmouth.

“Trains were stopped to protect the safety of passengers until an engineer could assess if there has been any structural damage to the bridge.”

The operation to release the boat from the bridge was a complicated one.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Barmouth inshore lifeboat was quickly launched to assess the scene and confirm if any persons were on board, and the all-weather lifeboat was launched shortly after at 6.45pm. It was quickly determined that there were no persons thought to be on board in the casualty vessel.

“Given that there was thought to be no persons onboard, a fast flowing incoming tide, and the fact the yacht was wedged fast into the bridge, the decision was made to stand-off until after high water at 8.55pm.

“Cables from the yacht were caught up in the bridge meaning any recovery had to be taken slowly and in a manner as to not endanger the volunteer crew or the bridge itself. During the assessing of the most opportune moment to move the yacht, both lifeboat crews liaised with both the harbourmaster and Barmouth Coastguard Team who were on the bridge and able to pass on information on how the yacht was caught up in the bridge’s structure.

“At 9.43pm the mast on the casualty vessel broke under the pressure of the changing tide. This released the yacht from the bridge. This meant the inshore lifeboat could guide the vessel away from further damage to a safe location. Both lifeboats were back on station and ready for service by 11.15pm.”