TRAINS ARE CANCELLED IN RAILWAY STAND-OFF
TRESPASSER DISRUPTS SERVICES AFTER CLIMBING ON GOODS WAGON
THIS is the moment a railway trespasser climbed on top of a stationary goods wagon in a standoff with police that disrupted train services for several hours.
The man, who strayed on to the railway line near Knighton Lane East, Leicester, yesterday morning, was eventually arrested by British Transport Police.
A SECTION of a busy rail route through Leicester was closed after a man was seen trespassing on the track.
Emergency services were at the scene of the incident near Knighton Lane East throughout yesterday after the alarm was raised shortly before 8.30am yesterday.
Services to and from London were “significantly disrupted” throughout the man’s six-hour stand-off with the police.
During the latter stages of the incident, he climbed on top of a stationary goods wagon. He was led away in handcuffs at about 2.30pm.
A number of police officers gathered in the grounds of the nearby Sir Jonathan North School and a footpath near the school was taped off to prevent people getting to the scene of the incident. A police spokeswoman said the man was reported to be on the line near Knighton Lane East at 8.20am and there had been concern for his welfare.
Rail services were stopped to allow emergency services to speak to the man, she said. British Transport Police (BTP) led the operation and its officers took the man into custody. A BTP spokesman said: “British Transport Police were called to the line near Leicester following reports of a trespasser. He was removed from the line.
“He has since been arrested for obstructing the railway.”
An East Midlands Railway spokesman said: “As a result of the trespass incident near Leicester our services to and from London have been significantly disrupted.”
Services were restored and trains were able to call at Leicester and Market Harborough stations by the early evening.
However, the company was able to operate only a reduced timetable on its London route for the rest of the day.
The spokesman added: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to passengers.”
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British Transport Police led the operation and its officers took the man into custody for obstructing the railway