At 12:45 p.m., the 10:00 a.m. Dublin (Heuston) to Cork (Kent) express train entered Buttevant station carrying 230 bank holiday passengers.

The locomotive remained upright but the carriages immediately behind the engine and generator van jack-knifed and were thrown across four sets of rail lines.

Local doctor Finnbarr Kennedy was nearby at the time of the crash, waiting to cross the line, and was able to give aid to those injured.

A major review of the national rail safety policy was held and resulted in the rapid elimination of the wooden-bodied coaches that had formed part of the train.

On this basis, the decision was quickly made to purchase a new fleet of modern intercity coaches based on the British Rail Mark 3 design.

A bronze sculpture in the shape of two crossing train tracks was unveiled alongside a plaque commemorating the names of the 18 victims.