Driver’s injuries lay bare the consequences of vandalism

Northern has made public the shocking injuries suffered by one of its drivers when vandals threw a brick at his train.

Ian Birch suffered cuts to his face after the windscreen was shattered as he was driving at 70mph in

Clifton (Greater Manchester) on February 4.

Fortunately, Birch was able to bring the train to a halt safely. He has since praised the response of a doctor travelling on-board, who was able to administer immediate first aid.

Speaking now that he has returned to work, he said: “I want the people who did this to see the impact of their actions. I could have been blinded. Someone knows who threw that brick, and I urge them to come forward to help ensure the person responsible doesn’t have the chance to endanger more lives with their reckless behaviour.”

Despite appeals for information from Northern and the British Transport Police, no arrests have yet been made.

Northern is also appealing for information after a separate incident, when a log was thrown into the path of an oncoming train on the Manchester side of Farnworth Tunnel at just before 1830 on March 14 (RAIL 954).

Anyone with information about either incident is urged to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 405040.