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UPDATE: Train driver with life-changing injuries after Salisbury collision

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A number of people have been injured following a collision between two trains in Salisbury on Sunday evening.

The incident happened when a carriage was derailed after hitting an object, and a second train then crashed into it when signalling was damaged.

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A train driver involved in a crash at the weekend suffered โ€œlife-changing injuriesโ€, police have said.

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Two trains collided in a tunnel in Salisbury, Wiltshire, at around 6.45pm on Sunday.

British Transport Police said on Monday: โ€œThirteen people were taken to hospital by ambulance, where they have received treatment for minor injuries. One remains there.

โ€œUnfortunately, the driver of the train was more seriously injured and his injuries are believed to be life-changing.

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โ€œHe also remains in hospital in a stable condition this morning, and his family have been informed.โ€

British Transport Police (BTP) said โ€œa number of peopleโ€ were injured in the incident, which occurred at Fisherton Tunnel close to London Road in the city.

‘Major incident’ declared

A statement said: โ€œWe were called to Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at 6.46pm tonight following reports of a train derailment which involved two passenger trains colliding.

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โ€œOfficers are continuing to respond to the incident alongside our emergency service colleagues and the line is expected to be shut for some time.

โ€œThankfully there have been no fatalities however a number of people have been injured and a casualty centre has been opened at a nearby church.

โ€œMost of these people are walking wounded however a small number, including the driver, have been taken to hospital where their injuries are being assessed.

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โ€œA major incident has been declared and this has been a large scale, multi-agency response working closely alongside our colleagues in Wiltshire. We will remain on scene throughout the night working to establish the full circumstances of how this incident came to happen.โ€

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement it had helped evacuate โ€œapproximately 100 peopleโ€ from the scene.

The driver had been trapped after the crash but was released from his cab having sustained injuries that were not believed to be serious.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: โ€œAt around 7pm this evening, the rear carriage of the 1708 Great Western Railway service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads derailed after striking an object on its approach to Salisbury station.

โ€œThe derailment knocked out all of the signalling in the area. Subsequently, the 1720 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton then collided with the Bristol train.โ€

After the incident unfolded, the derailed train was believed to be on its side, but the South Western Railway (SWR) train was upright.

In a statement, Great Western Railway (GWR) said the railway in the area would remain closed on Monday as โ€œspecialist teams continue their investigationsโ€.

It urged customers not to travel on the affected part of the network, adding the closure would affect SWR trains between Exeter and Basingstoke and GWR trains between Westbury and Portsmouth.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: โ€œMy thoughts go out to those affected by the serious rail incident near Salisbury.โ€

He said the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and Office of Rail and Road will investigate, adding: โ€œWe need to understand how this happened to prevent in the future.โ€

Transport Salaried Staffs Association general secretary Manuel Cortes said the incident was โ€œa very sobering reminder about why safety on our railways is always paramountโ€.

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said it is โ€œtoo early to speculateโ€ about the crash and said the company is waiting for the outcome of an investigation.


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