On Tuesday evening, passengers aboard a London Northwestern Railway train were urgently evacuated onto the tracks after the train collided with a fallen tree near Penkridge, Staffordshire. The incident, which took place at around 8:30 pm, disrupted services and caused significant delays and cancellations throughout the area.
Exclusive images obtained by the Mirror show rail staff assisting passengers as they carefully walked along the tracks beside the immobilized train. One passenger, who had boarded the train at Birmingham New Street after a day of work, described the chaotic scene: “We were stuck on board for some time. Then we got off the train and had to walk down the track. It was ridiculous.”
While this evacuation protocol is standard during such rare events, delays are expected to continue into Wednesday morning. The National Rail website confirmed that a tree blocking the railway line between Shrewsbury, Stafford, and Wolverhampton is the cause of the disruption. They warned that trains on these routes might be cancelled, delayed by up to an hour, diverted, or revised, with major disruptions anticipated throughout the day.
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Passengers affected by the incident were eventually escorted along the tracks, onto a nearby road in Penkridge, and transferred to rail replacement buses. These buses are currently running between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, as well as between Crewe and Wolverhampton, with tickets valid on these services at no extra charge.
The disruption impacts a wide range of routes, including those connecting London and major regional hubs. London Northwestern Railway services between Liverpool Lime Street, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and Birmingham New Street are either delayed or cancelled. Similarly, Avanti West Coast services operating between Edinburgh, Crewe, Wolverhampton, and London Euston remain affected.
West Midlands Railway services between Wolverhampton, Rugeley Trent Valley, and Walsall are also experiencing delays expected to carry over into Wednesday’s schedule. Avanti West Coast has advised passengers that if their train is cancelled, they may travel on the two services immediately before or after their booked train without extra cost. Those who decide not to travel due to disruptions can claim a full refund through their ticket provider.
CrossCountry has also issued travel advice online for passengers heading to destinations such as Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, Reading, Southampton Central, or Bournemouth. London Northwestern Railway recommends passengers use Avanti West Coast services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston as an alternative where applicable.
The Mirror has reached out to London Northwestern Railway for further comments regarding passengers' experiences during the evacuation.