A train has dramatically collided with a tractor at a level crossing, injuring a number of passengers.
Ambulance crews rushed to the scene outside Leominster in Herefordshire while travel on the line was brought to a complete stop.
Police confirmed there were 66 passengers on board the train travelling from Manchester to Cardiff, and six people were left injured after the terrifying incident. Emergency services were called to the incident at 10.45am this morning.
Photos from the scene show a red trailer crumpled in front of the nose of the train.
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Six people were confirmed to have suffered minor injuried after the terrifying incident in the Orleton area.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called to an incident on the railway track at Nordan Farm, Leominster at 10.46am. We currently have an ambulance, five paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham at the scene.”
Network Rail has advised passengers affected by the rail closures to take buses instead.
In a post, it wrote: “You may use your ticket onboard Stagecoach Buses between Cardiff and Hereford on routes 21, 23, X3 and X24 at no extra cost.”
The level crossing where the shock collision took place takes a farm track across the train lines. Agriculatural vehicles, like tractors and trailers, are the only ones thay use the crossing.
This mile-long path, which is particularly difficuly for regular cars to access, is currently blocked by dozens of cop and ambulance vehicles.
Despite this, surrounding roads in the area have remained open and do not face disruptions.
The British Transport Police confirmed it was investigating the cause of this horror collision from today.
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “Enquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances leading up to the incident.”
The shocking clash has left several routes affected while emergency services deal with the aftermath and the obstruction. National Rail confirmed routes between Milford Haven / Fishguard Harbour / Cardiff Central and Manchester Piccadilly, and also between Cardiff Central and Holyhead, were facing issues.
This has included no train services between Hereford and Craven Arms.
A Transport for Wales spokesperson said: “Due to a train striking a vehicle at Leominster all lines are on stop in the area, emergency road transport has been requested and is being sourced. Disruption is expected to continue into this evening.”
Although officials have confirmed the train did not derail and there was no fire, images from the scene have shown how the front of the train ploughed into and severely damaged a red tractor.
The side of the trailer was left dented into the nose of the train and the other side appeared to be pushed near a tree. The five carriage train seems to have come out with little to no damage.
Local emergency services said: “Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews from Hereford, Malvern, Redditch, Wyre Forest, Leintwardine, Tenbury Wells and Leominster Fire Stations were called at 10:52 on 22 May to an incident with a train, consisting of five carriages and carrying 66 people in collision with an agricultural trailer unit near Orleton.
“Six people have been handed over to the care of the ambulance service (log 1314) with minor injuries. Police are also in attendance, as are Network Rail.
“There is no fire and the train was not derailed but there will be some disruption to the line.”
Police confirmed 66 travellers were on board the Manchester-to-Cardiff train and several passengers sustained minor injuried, despite the train not having derailed.
Police, ambulance and fire crews all attended the scene while train services were halted in the area and disruption is set to continue until the evening.
Emergency services even deployed an air ambulacne to the scene of the shocking incident.
Six people have been injured after a passenger train crashed into a tractor and trailer at a level crossing.
Emergency services were called to the smash near to Nordan Farm, in Leominster, Herefordshire, after the train ploughed into the agricultural unit at around 10.50am this morning.
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