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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. At least two people died when the light aircraft they were in crashed into overhead power lines on the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire.
The aircraft came down in Little Haywood, near Stafford, just before 1200 GMT. The single-engine plane came down where two tracks fork 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. A British Transport Police spokesman said officers could not rule out finding more bodies at the crash site.
The crash has closed that part of the major rail route, disrupting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland. Part of the major rail route is closed, 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." Recovery operations are taking place but the line is not expected to be fully restored this weekend, the spokesman said.
Trains diverted Network Rail said all services through the area would be suspended until Saturday at the earliest.
Network Rail said all services through the area were suspended until Saturday at the earliest. We ran into the garden and just saw something drop from the sky Eyewitness Janet Hemmings
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 that 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.
class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7808440.stm">Scotland trains delayed after crash 'Black smoke'
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. class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7808440.stm">Scotland trains delayed after crash
"Then my husband started shouting, 'I can see it coming down' and we ran into the garden and just saw something drop 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
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.
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.
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:
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