Severe disruption has hit one of Britain's busiest rail corridors after a person was struck by a train on the West Coast Mainline, causing widespread cancellations and lengthy delays during Thursday's evening commute.
The incident occurred between Preston and Lancaster, bringing all services on this critical route to a standstill and creating a domino effect of delays across the network.
Emergency Response and Service Suspension
North West Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to the scene near Preston around 4:30 PM, with multiple emergency vehicles responding to the serious incident. The exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Avanti West Coast, which operates the majority of services on this route, immediately suspended all trains between Glasgow and London Euston, affecting thousands of passengers during peak travel hours.
Widespread Travel Chaos
The disruption has created significant problems for travellers between Scotland and England, with services from both Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley experiencing major delays and cancellations.
Passengers already en route faced extended stationary periods, with some trains held at stations for over an hour while emergency services dealt with the situation.
Alternative Travel Arrangements
Rail operators have implemented several measures to assist stranded passengers:
- Tickets are being accepted on alternative routes including TransPennine Express services
- Passengers can use their tickets on later services throughout the evening
- Replacement road transport is being arranged where possible
- Customers are advised to check live journey planners before travelling
Recovery Operations Underway
Network Rail engineers and emergency services remain at the scene working to restore normal operations. However, significant delays are expected to continue throughout the evening as the backlog of services clears.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Britain's rail infrastructure, where a single incident on this crucial artery can disrupt travel across the country.
