Manchester crash LIVE: Travel chaos erupts after car crashes onto railway in Salford_L
Trains aren’t running between Manchester and Liverpool after a car crashed onto tracks in Salford overnight.
A crash which saw a car land on railway tracks in Greater Manchester has sparked travel chaos.
Police said a car crashed overnight at Regent Road roundabout in Salford before landing on tracks beneath, closing railway lines between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester. The crash has also been affecting trains between Wigan North Western and Manchester.
Network Rail said: “We are sorry to passengers travelling between Liverpool and Manchester today. Due to a police incident overnight involving a vehicle on the line at Salford no trains are running.”
A National Rail spokesperson added: “Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Newton-le-Willows / Wigan North Western and Manchester Oxford Road / Manchester Victoria all lines are currently closed.
“As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Disruption is expected until 1pm.”
The road reopened at 7.30am, but major rail disruption is expected throughout the day. The driver of the car has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Damage suggests car was travelling at powerful speed
The vehicle appears to have lost control on the Regent Road Roundabout, smashing first through a metal safety barrier by the side of the road.
It then appears to have bounced off a tree – shearing away the bark – before crashing through a concrete wall and down onto the rail track.
Damage also indicates the vehicle must have been travelling at a powerful speed as it ploughed through at least two safety barriers.
Network Rail workers are looking to call in a crane to lift the car away.
Driver’s injuries ‘serious’ but ‘not life-threatening’, GMP says
Greater Manchester Police has said the car driver has injuries understood to be “serious but not life-threatening”.
British Transport Police confirmed the driver has been taken to hospital, but the force said they are not thought to be badly injured, adding: “Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
What to do if you’re affected this morning
Tickets are being accepted on alternative rail services where applicable. A rail replacement bus service has also been organised.
National Rail, which represents train operating companies, said disruption between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester’s Oxford Road and Victoria stations was expected until 1pm.
Customers can use their ticket on the replacement services running at 30 minutes past every hour between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Victoria.
While passengers travelling from Liverpool Lime Street who need Manchester stations can travel via Warrington Bank Quay.
Network Rail apologises as workers assess damaged cables
Network Rail has said its engineers are at the scene with British Transport Police as they attempt to remove the vehicle from the tracks.
It said staff are also assessing the situation in order to repair damaged cables “as quickly as possible”, but the line is expected to be closed for most of the day.
A spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry to any passengers affected by this incident and urge anyone planning to travel by train between Liverpool and Manchester to plan ahead and check with their train operator for the latest travel information.”
Only one vehicle involved, police say
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed only one car was involved.
The force said: “Please expect some delays this morning while remedial works are carried out following a one vehicle collision.
“There will also be disruption to the rail network as the car has landed on the train tracks.
“[The] [d]river [has been] arrested on suspicion of drink driving.”
Image shows ‘severity’ of crash, railway company says
TransPennine Express has posted an image of the scene to underline its “severity”.
A spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News the image “shows the severity of the issue”.
‘Major’ disruption expected until end of today, National Rail warns
National Rail has said Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport, between Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria, and between Chester and Leeds/Manchester Victoria have been affected.
TransPennine Express services between Liverpool Lime Street and Hull/Manchester Victoria/Newcastle as well as between Lancaster and Manchester Airport have been hit too.
Transport for Wales services between Chester/Llandudno and Manchester Airport/Manchester Oxford Road and between Holyhead and Manchester Airport have also been affected.
National Rail said: “Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.”
The body has posted alternative routes on its website here.
Video shows scene of Salford car crash
This video filmed by Manchester Evening News reporter Stephen Topping shows the scene earlier this morning.
Images show car on its roof and damaged barrier
Here’s a couple of photos credited to Greater Manchester Police which show the scene in the early hours of this morning.
You can see the car lying on its roof across the train tracks and the extent of the damage to a concrete barrier on the path above the railway lines, marked by pink plastic fencing.
Driver arrested for ‘positive breath sample’, police say
Greater Manchester Police has said the driver of the car has been arrested.
In a statement, the force warned of disruption to the rail network as the car landed on the train tracks.
It added: “Driver arrested for positive breath sample.”
Salford crash causes ‘carnage’, local media reports
The crash has caused “carnage” at the Regent Road roundabout, according to the Manchester Evening News.
It reported that the car crashed through a concrete barrier near a walkway.
A 10ft stretch of reinforced concrete was damaged on impact, the same publication reports.
Driver taken to hospital, police say
British Transport Police has issued a statement saying its officers were called to the railway line in Salford at about 2am this morning.
A spokesperson said: “The driver has been taken to hospital for assessment but is not thought to be badly injured.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
Welcome to our live coverage
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage where we’ll bring you all the details after a car crash landed onto railway tracks in Salford.
