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| Plane wreckage removed from line | Plane wreckage removed from line |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Most of the wreckage of a light aircraft which crashed onto a railway line killing three people has been been removed by air accident investigators. | Most of the wreckage of a light aircraft which crashed onto a railway line killing three people has been been removed by air accident investigators. |
| The pilot Alan Matthews, 59, along with Nick O'Brien, 35, and his wife, Emma, 29, all from the West Midlands, died in the crash near Stafford, on Friday. | The pilot Alan Matthews, 59, along with Nick O'Brien, 35, and his wife, Emma, 29, all from the West Midlands, died in the crash near Stafford, on Friday. |
| Network Rail said engineers would begin work on the West Coast Main Line once investigators handed the site back. | |
| The section of track should be open in time for Monday's rush hour, it added. | The section of track should be open in time for Monday's rush hour, it added. |
| Train operators were running a reduced service on the West Coast Main Line on Sunday, with rail replacement buses adding to journey times. | |
| 'Preparatory work' | |
| A spokesman for Network Rail said accident investigators had cleared most of the wreckage and were conducting a "fingertip search" at the site. | |
| Investigators spent most of Saturday gathering evidence from the crash site | |
| Teams of rail engineers were expected to be allowed on the site on Saturday afternoon, but preparatory work to repair damaged power cables and tracks had already been carried out, he added. | |
| Tributes have been paid to the victims of the crash. | Tributes have been paid to the victims of the crash. |
| Mr and Mrs O'Brien, from Shirley, Solihull, who married last August, were passengers in the plane which crashed when it hit power lines above the track at Little Haywood. | Mr and Mrs O'Brien, from Shirley, Solihull, who married last August, were passengers in the plane which crashed when it hit power lines above the track at Little Haywood. |
| The couple had two children, Callum, aged 10, and 18-month-old Joel, a British Transport Police spokeswoman said. | The couple had two children, Callum, aged 10, and 18-month-old Joel, a British Transport Police spokeswoman said. |
| It is understood that Mr O'Brien knew the pilot Mr Matthews, from Walsall, through his work. | It is understood that Mr O'Brien knew the pilot Mr Matthews, from Walsall, through his work. |
| Mr Matthews' wife Jenny paid tribute to her "loving, caring" husband in a statement. She said he would help anybody and loved flying. | Mr Matthews' wife Jenny paid tribute to her "loving, caring" husband in a statement. She said he would help anybody and loved flying. |
| Mr Matthews is registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. | Mr Matthews is registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| Club member Richard Morris said: "He (Alan) was a very nice chap and he was one of our long-standing members at the club. RAIL ENQUIRIES For more information on train times call 08457 48 49 50 National Rail Enquiries The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | Club member Richard Morris said: "He (Alan) was a very nice chap and he was one of our long-standing members at the club. RAIL ENQUIRIES For more information on train times call 08457 48 49 50 National Rail Enquiries The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
| "We are all deeply shocked to hear of this accident - he was a very good, experienced flyer and we are just totally shocked really." | "We are all deeply shocked to hear of this accident - he was a very good, experienced flyer and we are just totally shocked really." |
| Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been examining the scene since the crash shortly before 1200 GMT on Friday. | Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been examining the scene since the crash shortly before 1200 GMT on Friday. |
| The incident has had an impact on rail travel through the area affecting trains from London to the North West and Scotland. | The incident has had an impact on rail travel through the area affecting trains from London to the North West and Scotland. |
| Glen MacDonald of Virgin Trains, said: "The advice to people is that they should allow extra time for their journey. | Glen MacDonald of Virgin Trains, said: "The advice to people is that they should allow extra time for their journey. |
| "Journeys will take longer than normal, 45 to 60 minutes longer than normal, and they should check the times of trains before they travel." | "Journeys will take longer than normal, 45 to 60 minutes longer than normal, and they should check the times of trains before they travel." |
| Replacement buses put on by London Midland are also running to local stations in the area. | Replacement buses put on by London Midland are also running to local stations in the area. |