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Fatal crash plane hits rail line | Fatal crash plane hits rail line |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two people are feared dead after their light aircraft crashed into the overhead power lines of the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire. | Two people are feared dead after their light aircraft crashed into the overhead power lines of the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire. |
The aircraft came down in Little Haywood, near Stafford, just before 1200 GMT. | The aircraft came down in Little Haywood, near Stafford, just before 1200 GMT. |
It ended up on land where the tracks fork, between the tracks but largely missing them. | |
The crash has closed that part of the major rail route, disrupting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland. | The crash has closed that part of the major rail route, disrupting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland. |
A Staffordshire police spokeswoman said: "There are potentially two fatalities from the aircraft, but until further investigations have been carried out and families informed, we cannot give any more information." | A Staffordshire police spokeswoman said: "There are potentially two fatalities from the aircraft, but until further investigations have been carried out and families informed, we cannot give any more information." |
Trains diverted | Trains diverted |
Network Rail said all services through the area were suspended until Saturday at the earliest. | Network Rail said all services through the area were suspended until Saturday at the earliest. |
Friday evening rush hour services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central were cancelled. | Friday evening rush hour services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central were cancelled. |
Virgin Trains said passengers could use alternative services and diversions were in place. | Virgin Trains said passengers could use alternative services and diversions were in place. |
London Midland, which runs trains from Birmingham to Liverpool and from Crewe to London Euston, has suspended all services in the area. | London Midland, which runs trains from Birmingham to Liverpool and from Crewe to London Euston, has suspended all services in the area. |
Replacement buses have been set up. | Replacement buses have been set up. |
Scotland trains delayed after crash | Scotland trains delayed after crash |
Virgin Trains tickets dated for Friday 2 January will still be valid on Saturday 3 January. | Virgin Trains tickets dated for Friday 2 January will still be valid on Saturday 3 January. |
Janet Hemmings, from Crewe, who was visiting her sister at the time, witnessed the crash. | Janet Hemmings, from Crewe, who was visiting her sister at the time, witnessed the crash. |
She said: "We just heard a terrible noise, it was just too low to believe it sounded normal. | She said: "We just heard a terrible noise, it was just too low to believe it sounded normal. |
"Then my husband started shouting, 'I can see it coming down' and we ran into the garden and just saw something dropped from the sky. | "Then my husband started shouting, 'I can see it coming down' and we ran into the garden and just saw something dropped from the sky. |
"There was just a big plume of black smoke and you could see the power cables to the railway line had actually snapped where it had obviously landed on the power cables." | "There was just a big plume of black smoke and you could see the power cables to the railway line had actually snapped where it had obviously landed on the power cables." |
Local resident Gerald Simpkin saw the plane come down and described it as looking like it was performing acrobatics. | Local resident Gerald Simpkin saw the plane come down and described it as looking like it was performing acrobatics. |
"We expected it to come back again but it didn't," he said. | "We expected it to come back again but it didn't," he said. |
"We did not hear anything. There was no explosion, no smoke. A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic." | "We did not hear anything. There was no explosion, no smoke. A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic." |
Diesel supplies | Diesel supplies |
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks - it had struck the power lines for the railway. | A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival crews found the wreckage of a plane between two railway tracks - it had struck the power lines for the railway. |
"Sadly there was nothing that could be done and and no-one has been taken to hospital." | "Sadly there was nothing that could be done and and no-one has been taken to hospital." |
Network Rail said there was debris by the side of the track at the crash scene. | Network Rail said there was debris by the side of the track at the crash scene. |
Three passenger trains and two freight trains were stranded when overhead power was switched off between Stafford and Rugeley. | Three passenger trains and two freight trains were stranded when overhead power was switched off between Stafford and Rugeley. |
They will be towed by diesel locomotives and were expected to resume their journeys shortly, a spokesman said. | They will be towed by diesel locomotives and were expected to resume their journeys shortly, a spokesman said. |
Are you in the area? Have you seen anything or have you been affected by the crash? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you seen anything or have you been affected by the crash? Send us your comments using the form below: |
You can also send us pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can also send us pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |