Bridge strike Eckington-Abbotswood area?

[D1009]

Picked up on RTT the Birmingham- Gloucester main line has been blocked since around 2130, and all subsequent trains cancelled, with 1V70 returning north. Anyone got any further details?

 

[willas00]

Gloucestershire Police chasing a stolen tractor has reported the tractor has hit a bridge between Wadborough and Abbotswood Junction causing damage to bridge with debris on the track.

 

[headshot119]

I assume this is what has decimated the Cross Country services today?

 

[iantherev]

I assume this is what has decimated the Cross Country services today?

Correct. All trains from the South West running as far as Gloucester/Bristol TM from what I can see.

 

[GlosRail]

It would have been West Mercia Police as it's in Worcestershire.

Looking at some photos this morning it seems the tractor has knocked a large section of the bridge onto the tracks, and was very lucky not to have crashed through itself.

The line was due to close this afternoon for 24 hours as well, I think for track work at Ashchurch.

See https://twitter.com/crosscountryuk/status/731354426015928320

 

[Zoidberg]

Gloucestershire Police chasing a stolen tractor has reported the tractor has hit a bridge between Wadborough and Abbotswood Junction causing damage to bridge with debris on the track.

There's a couple of pics in the report at

http://m.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Tr...r-Cheltenham/story-29272447-detail/story.html

Extract:

All trains travelling between Gloucester and Cheltenham and Birmingham New Street are facing huge delays and diversions this morning after a tractor went over a railway bridge and onto the tracks near Cheltenham.

Passengers are currently being advised they should travel via Reading instead while engineers are on site to resolve the problem.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "There are some delays and cancellations to services between Cheltenham and Birmingham this morning following an incident overnight near Abbotswood. A tractor, believed to be stolen, hit and demolished the parapet above a railway bridge, causing debris to fall onto the track below."

...

The spokesman continued: "Following the incident, a train travelling from Cardiff to Birmingham New Street hit the debris at 9.30pm yesterday evening. There were no injuries and the train was not derailed, but did sustain some damage. West Mercia Police attended the scene. We currently have a diversion in place and train services are likely to be impacted for most of the morning. Please check before you travel."

 

[Master29]

Let`s hope they throw the book at the little bar stewards if they`re caught. It did make me chuckle a little when it says police chasing a tractor. Either police cars in Worcester have a 30mph max speed or their tractors would be swooned over by Clarkson. Pity the poor traveller though.

 

[trentside]

Let`s hope they throw the book at the little bar stewards if they`re caught. It did make me chuckle a little when it says police chasing a tractor. Either police cars in Worcester have a 30mph max speed or their tractors would be swooned over by Clarkson. Pity the poor traveller though.

Quite hard to stop a tractor! I'd imagine the perpetrator will get 3 points on a non-existent licence and a 2 day suspended sentence... Cynical much?

 

[Master29]

ITV news got the imagery completely wrong as well as the operator. Virgin Trains?

http://www.itv.com/news/west/update...oucestershire-after-tractor-falls-off-bridge/

 

[D1009]

Quite hard to stop a tractor! I'd imagine the perpetrator will get 3 points on a non-existent licence and a 2 day suspended sentence... Cynical much?

I haven't read anything to suggest the police even caught the person, though it's hard to believe they didn't.

 

[Harbornite]

It's a pity that the crash wasn't a few miles north, then there would have been the potential to divert services via Worcester.

 

[GlosRail]

The line has just reopened.

 

[PHILIPE]

The line has just reopened.

Not for long though as it closes again at 1320 for Planned Engineering Work.

 

[Kite159]

At least passengers on the 09:03 to Edinburgh from New Street had the luxury of a HST rather than a 220 this morning