Emergency services were called to the Leominster area at just before 11am this morning, following reports that a train had hit an object on the line.
West Mercia Police, British Transport Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Air Ambulance and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service all attended the incident.
It was quickly identified that a number of people had suffered mostly minor injuries.
A spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service told Your Herefordshire:
“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.”
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said:
“British Transport Police were called to a level crossing north of Leominster, Herefordshire, at 10.40am today (22 May) following reports that a train had struck a tractor and trailer.
“Officers are in attendance, alongside officers from West Merica Police, paramedics and fire service.
“Currently six individuals are being assessed by paramedics with injuries that are not thought to be serious.
“Enquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances leading up to the incident.”
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.”
Emergency services remain at the scene. The Air Ambulance has landed at Hereford County Hospital.
All roads in the area remain open as normal.
Disruption to Transport for Wales services is expected for several hours.
“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.”
From Network Rail:
The emergency services are dealing with an incident involving a train hitting an obstruction on the line between Hereford and Craven Arms, as a result all lines are blocked. Trains are unable to run between these stations will be cancelled or revised.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer advice:
You may use your ticket onboard the following services at no extra cost:
- Avanti West Coast between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly
- CrossCountry between Cardiff Central and Bristol Parkway, and between Bristol Parkway and Manchester Piccadilly
- Great Western Railway between Cardiff Central and Bristol Parkway
- London Northwestern Railway between Birmingham New Street and Crewe via Wolverhampton
- Northern between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly
- Stagecoach Buses between Cardiff and Hereford on routes 21, 23, X3 and X24
- West Midlands Railway between Hereford and Birmingham New Street, and also between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury
Transport for Wales are currently organising buses to remain on standby at Newport, Hereford and Shrewsbury to assist customers to complete journeys where possible at no extra cost. Further details will follow once confirmed.
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.
For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.
You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.
Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.
Compensation:
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.
