Major rail disruption after car smashes off bridge onto tracks
Services between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street have been cancelled this morning
Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 7th Feb 2025Last updated 7th Feb 2025
Commuters are facing major disruption on trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street this morning after a car smashed through a bridge. Dramatic pictures show the vehicle on tracks at Salford, with emergency services rushing to the Regent Road roundabout early on Friday (06 February). National Rail has confirmed all lines are closed between Manchester and Newton-le-Willows, with disruption expected until the early afternoon.
Buses are currently running between the two stations. Greater Manchester Police said a driver had been arrested. The force said: "GMP responded to a collision on Regents Road in Salford this morning at around 2am (Friday 7 February 2025), following reports of a road traffic collision involving one car on the railway line near Regents Road roundabout in Salford.
"Emergency service colleagues attended and one man in his 30s was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life- changing or life-threatening. "A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving. "There is still a police scene in place on Regents Road and we continue to work with British Transport Police and Network Rail to conduct initial enquiries.
"We apologise for any disruption and we thank the public for their patience as we work in the area." Train services operated by Northern, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales are affected. A Network Rail spokesperson said: "In the early hours of this morning, a car crashed on to the railway near Regents Road Roundabout in Salford causing significant damage to the railway and overhead electric cables that provide power to trains.
"As a result of this incident, no trains are able to run on the Chat Moss line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly, impacting Transport for Wales, TransPennine Express and Northern train services. "Our engineers are on site working with the British Transport Police to remove the vehicle from the tracks and are assessing the situation in order to repair the damaged cables as quickly as possible, however the line is expected to be closed for the majority of the day. "We're really sorry to any passengers affected by this incident and urge anyone planning to travel by train between Liverpool and Manchester to plan ahead and check with their train operator for the latest travel information."
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