Experimental cause of a rail crash at Acton Central (5)
I believe the answer is:
trial
'experimental' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'rail crash at acton central' is the wordplay.
'crash' is an anagram indicator.
'at' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'central' says to take the centre.
The central letter of 'acton' is 't'.
'rail' with letters rearranged gives 'rial'.
'rial' after 't' is 'TRIAL'.
'cause of a' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for trial that I've seen before include "show at Crufts?" , "Criminal court case" , "Judicial examination" , "Ordeal, perhaps in court" , "Experimental treatment" .)