Man dies as van is hit by train on level crossing in major incident
A man has died after a van was struck by a train in Lancashire. Emergency services were called to the line at 3.18pm today (August 29) following reports of the collision in the Burscough area of West Lancashire.
Photos shared online show a Northern service halted beside open fields, with several ambulances and a fire engine at the scene. British Transport Police said this evening that the driver of the van was pronounced dead. Two passengers on the train were injured.
The full update from British Transport Police reads as follows, as per the Liverpool Echo:
“We were called to a level crossing in Burscough, West Lancashire following reports at 3:18pm today (29 August) that a train had struck a van. Paramedics and the fire service also attended.
“One person was in the van and sadly a man was pronounced dead at the scene. Two people who were passengers on the train received treatment for minor injuries.
“The incident is not being treated as suspicious. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened, any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police are asked to text BTP on 61016 quoting the reference 373 of 29 August.”
On X (formerly known as Twitter), Northern initially stated: “Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident Wigan Wallgate – Southport all lines are blocked. Please note that other train operators may also be affected by disruption – please check your whole journey before travelling.”
“Northern train ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, during this disruption. Restrictions will be reinstated once the disruption ends.” Eyewitnesses have shared images and accounts with the Liverpool Echo that a vehicle was hit by a Northern train.
Some passangers on the train have said they were kept on the train for several hours and were very shaken after the crash. One passenger reportedly posted an image of damage done to the inside of the train during the crash.
Images shared with the ECHO show the stationary train close to what appears to be wreckage of a vehicle. The incident appears to have occurred near Martin Lane in Burscough, close to its junction with Whitehouse Lane.
Northern Trains enacted emergency protocols at the time to handle the severe network disruption, the Manchester Evening News reported. Consequently, all lines between Wigan Wallgate and Southport were completely blocked, disrupting travel routes connecting Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Additionally, ticket restrictions were lifted for all affected areas. Travelers were also being strongly urged to verify their entire journey through National Rail Enquiries before setting off, as other regional operators are facing knock-on delays.
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