Salisbury train crash: Passengers injured after two trains collide in 'major incident'
Network Rail says a carriage derailed after hitting an object as it approached Salisbury station, and another train then collided with it.
Monday 1 November 2021 11:05, UK
Several people have been injured after two trains collided in a "major incident" near Salisbury station.
One carriage derailed at Fisherton Tunnel shortly before 7pm on Sunday, and another service crashed into it. All those on board have been led to safety.
One of the train drivers was trapped in his cab but has since been freed and taken to hospital. He is not seriously injured, the PA news agency reported.
A passenger, Demitri, told Sky News he was "pretty scared" as he "heard a big crash" and "saw flames".
He added: "After that the lights went out and the position of the train was like 45 degrees tilted to the right."
Local resident Tamar Vellacott, 25, said the collision created a "long rumbling sound like thunder".
Sky News correspondent Alex Rossi said trees had been blown over by "strong autumnal winds".
A "number" of people were injured but no one died, British Transport Police said. Earlier, PA said "up to a dozen" had been hurt.
At a news conference, British Transport Police Inspector Mullah Hoque said "a number of people have been injured" and "most of these people are walking wounded".
He added that "thankfully there have been no fatalities" but a "small number of people, including the driver, have been taken to hospital where their injuries are being assessed".
Inspector Hoque said the line is "expected to be shut for some time" and officers will "remain on the scene throughout the night working to establish the full circumstances as to how this incident came to happen".
Network Rail said the rear carriage of the 17.08 Great Western Railway service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads "derailed after striking an object on its approach to Salisbury station".
It added: "The derailment knocked out all of the signalling in the area. Subsequently, the 17.20 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton then collided with the Bristol train.
"There are reports of injuries and the emergency services are on site along with railway first responders."
A casualty centre has been set up at St Mark's Church in St Mark's Avenue in Salisbury.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service described it as a "major incident" and said 50 firefighters had been sent to the scene.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said a "thorough search" has been carried out of the train carriages and around "100 people have been evacuated", adding it is believed there are not any further casualties on board.
He said the fire service will "shortly be scaling down" its response but will keep some resources at the scene.
Alex Rossi described the emergency services' response as "significant".
"At least five fire engines and as many as 10 ambulances are on the scene," he added.
"Overhead, the sound of a police helicopter and a drone can be heard, as the emergency services survey the area for damage."
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said it was "deploying inspectors to the site".
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: "We need to understand how this happened to prevent in the future."
Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said: "This is a very sobering reminder about why safety on our railways is always paramount."