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Fatal crash plane hits rail line Fatal crash plane hits rail line
(10 minutes 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 between two lines where the rail route forked, missing the tracks.It ended up between two lines where the rail route forked, missing the tracks.
The crash has closed that part of the West Coast Main Line, disrupting travel between London Euston and the North West.The crash has closed that part of the West Coast Main Line, disrupting travel between London Euston and the North West.
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
Virgin Trains said services between London, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool were being diverted via Birmingham and Wolverhampton, adding 60 minutes to journey times.Virgin Trains said services between London, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool were being diverted via Birmingham and Wolverhampton, adding 60 minutes to journey times.
It advised passengers not to travel on the route and use alternative lines instead.It advised passengers not to travel on the route and use alternative lines instead.
A replacement bus service has been set up between Stafford and Rugby and between Stafford and Crewe, Network Rail said.A replacement bus service has been set up between Stafford and Rugby and between Stafford and Crewe, Network Rail said.
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 will run between Crewe and Rugby and between Wolverhampton and Crewe.Replacement buses will run between Crewe and Rugby and between Wolverhampton and Crewe.
Scotland trains delayed after crashScotland trains delayed after crash
Virgin Trains passengers are advised not to travel, or to use alternative routes which will accept Virgin Trains customers.Virgin Trains passengers are advised not to travel, or to use alternative routes which will accept Virgin Trains customers.
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."We did not hear anything. There was no explosion, no smoke.
"A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic.""A few minutes later we saw air ambulances arrive. It is tragic."
Diesel suppliesDiesel 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 were being supplied with diesel and were expected to resume their journeys shortly, a spokesman said.They were being supplied with diesel and were expected to resume their journeys shortly, a spokesman said.

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