Man killed in rail horror

From the archive, first published Friday 6th Apr 2007.

A man was killed and a woman was fighting for her life last night after they were hit by a train in Bradford.

The pair, both aged 21, were walking on the railway line near Wyke Tunnel at 5pm yesterday when they were struck by a passing Northern Rail service.

British Transport Police officers have not yet been able to establish why they were walking on the track and the incident was last night being described as "unexplained".

Sergeant Rob Pedley said the pair were on a very dangerous section of track known as a Red Area where there is no room for a train to pass a pedestrian safely.

The driver of the train reported the incident, sparking a major operation from the emergency services which involved police, ambulance crews, the fire service and the police helicopter.

Both people, described as white and from the Bradford area, were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary in a very serious condition. The man was pronounced dead a short time later.

Sgt Pedley said: "We can confirm that there has been a railway accident where two people were involved.

"They are both white and aged 21. They are from the Bradford area but not from the immediate locality.

"We have no indication as to why they were on this dangerous part of track, or how they got there. All the fencing is intact.

"We are appealing for witnesses that may have seen a couple in the area after 4pm yesterday.

"After the incident, our prime concern was first aid to the casualties. The report came from the train driver."

The line did not reopen until 8.30pm when investigators had finished their examination of the scene. Station Road, which runs between Wyke and Norwood Green, was also cordoned off by police for more than three hours as investigations were carried out.

Trains between Bradford Interchange and Halifax were cancelled during this period, with passengers advised to travel via Leeds or by bus.

Nearby residents said it was not unusual for people - especially children - to play around near that section of line.

Jean Tailford, of Green Lane, Wyke, said: "Kids are always playing around down there. It's near Judy Woods, so any children who have been out for a walk with their parents will know the railway line is there. The track runs alongside the road and you can see the trains."

Susan Tailford, also of Green Lane, said: "It's shocking to hear what's happened. We saw the helicopter overhead hanging around for an aerial view.

I gather it's quite easy to get on to the track down there because there's a gate people can climb over."

A Northern Rail spokesman confirmed the 3.44pm departure from Selby to Wakefield Westgate had hit two people near Wyke tunnel shortly after it had left Bradford Interchange and that the incident had caused "significant disruption."

Anyone with information about the incident should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 60.

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