Driver arrested after car crashes onto railway tracks in Greater Manchester
- A single vehicle accident occurred as a car crashed through a railway bridge onto the tracks in Salford.
- The driver, a man in his thirties, was taken to the hospital and arrested for suspected drunk driving.
- The incident caused major disruptions to train services between Manchester and Liverpool, with repairs expected to take most of the day.
In the early hours of February 7, 2025, a significant incident occurred when a car crashed through a railway bridge and landed on the tracks below in Salford, Greater Manchester. The accident took place around 2 a.m. near the Regents Road roundabout and involved a single vehicle. Following the collision, emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene, where they found the driver—a man in his thirties—who was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The driver was also taken to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. The crash disrupted railway services extensively. All trains running on the Chat Moss line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly were halted, impacting services from major operators such as Northern, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales. The incident led to significant damage to the railway infrastructure, including overhead electric cables, which will necessitate repairs by Network Rail engineers. Although the road was reopened at 7:30 a.m., rail bosses warned that the line would likely remain closed for most of the day, with disruption expected until at least 1 p.m. for many train services. Images from the site revealed the vehicle overturned and surrounded by wreckage, highlighting the extent of the crash. Moreover, local authorities reported that no other vehicles were involved, and the impact of the incident raised safety concerns regarding possible drink driving in the area. The visible damage to the bridge and railway line led to a police scene being set up as investigations continued. Commuters were advised to plan alternative travel routes, and replacement bus services were initiated in some regions to accommodate passengers affected by the disruption. The incident raises awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and its potential consequences for public transport safety. Officials, including Network Rail and Greater Manchester Police, expressed their regrets regarding the disruptions to commuters and encouraged the public to exercise caution while traveling. It remains imperative for those planning to travel between Liverpool and Manchester to check for updates from their respective train operators as the recovery progresses and repairs are undertaken.