THE FREIGHT locomotive which derailed near Bromsgrove last night was struck by a CrossCountry passenger train.
The incident, 500 yards from Bromsgrove Station, involved a service travelling from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street.
The locomotive is thought to have arrived at Bromsgrove a few minutes before the incident, having travelled from a depot at Bescot, near Wednesbury. It is believed that the locomotive derailed after going through buffers at the end of a siding, adjacent to the northbound mainline.
Both the locomotive, a class 66 diesel engine, number 66057, and the passenger train, a diesel class 170 unit, received damage in the incident.
A spokesperson for CrossCountry said: “At around 10.45pm on Monday, our 9.05pm service from Cardiff to Birmingham was involved in a collision with non-passenger train at Bromsgrove.
“There are no reports of any injuries and the small number of passengers on board were taken to Bromsgrove Station and provided alternative transport.
“The incident has been reported to the relevant safety authorities who are investigating the circumstances.”
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The loco derailed at low speed and was clipped by a passing passenger train.
“Both trains remained upright.
“There were no injuries to anyone involved.
“The cause of the incident is unknown at this time and we are working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to establish what happened.
“Anyone planning to travel through the area should check National Rail Enquiries for the latest information.”
Network Rail has revealed there would be delays and cancellations until the end of the day.
Trains from Hereford to Birmingham New Street are terminating at Worcester Shrub Hill.
West Midlands Railway said there were no trains on the Hereford Line between University and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.
Among the trains affected by the incident were services between Cardiff, Bristol, Worcester, Hereford and Birmingham avoiding the station and instead diverting via Kidderminster.
No Great Western Railway services will run between Worcester Shrub Hill and Cheltenham Spa in both directions until further notice.
Transport for Wales between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa in both directions will be disrupted until further notice, along with West Midlands Railway trains between Worcester Shrub Hill and Birmingham Moor Street / Snow Hill
Trains on the Cross City Line were unaffected.
