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Rail services return after Staffordshire cable fall | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Rail services are returning to normal after overhead cables were brought down twice on a major line. | |
Passengers between Birmingham and Stafford, Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland faced delays until Wednesday morning. | |
Cables fell between Penkridge and Wolverhampton on Monday night before being brought down again on Tuesday. | |
In the second incident, the cable hit a train carrying passengers who described "a large pink flash". | |
'Extensive damage' | |
A Network Rail spokesman said: "There were virtually no trains between Wolverhampton and Stafford for the best part of 36 hours, if you count it as one continuous incident." | |
The line reopened at about 10:00 GMT and National Rail Inquiries said delays were cleared by 11:30 GMT. | |
The overhead power lines, which carry 25,000 volts of electricity, came down in the Penkridge area on Monday evening, Network Rail said. | |
Repairs were carried out and the lines reopened about 08:30 GMT on Tuesday. | |
"Unfortunately, the first train through the area brought them down again, but this time caused extensive damage," the spokesman added. | |
"Over a mile of cables were brought down and a large amount of the equipment they are connected to was also severely damaged." | |
Cause not known | |
Passenger Teresa Fuller, who was on Tuesday's train which was hit by the power line, said there was "a large pink flash followed by a clattering sound" as the cable hit the roof. | |
Those on board waited for about two hours before the train was evacuated and they were led along the tracks to waiting coaches. | |
Network Rail said an investigation into what happened was now under way. | |
"At this stage we have not established a cause for the two incidents as we have been concentrating on getting the repairs completed and services running again. | |
"We will have a thorough technical investigation to find out what caused the trouble." |
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