Trains cancelled after car lands on railway tracks below Salford roundabout

• ITV News Granada Reports' Emma Sweeney provides the latest on the crash disruption.

A major railway line is closed after a car driven by a suspected drunk-driver crashed on to train tracks.

All trains have been stopped on the line, which runs between Liverpool and Manchester, while an investigation takes place and the car, which is on its roof in the middle of the tracks, is removed.

The incident happened in the early hours of Friday, 7 February, at Regent Road roundabout, in Salford.

Greater Manchester Police said the driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. They were taken to hospital for assessment, but their injuries are not thought to be serious.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Services between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester have been cancelled, with rail replacement buses being used.

Wigan North Western services are also affected, as well as Northern, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales services.

The A57 Regent Road, off the M602 was closed for some time, but has since re-opened.

In a statement on X, Greater Manchester Police said: "Please expect some delays this morning while remedial works are carried out following a one vehicle collision.

"There will also be disruption to the rail network as the car has landed on the train tracks. Driver arrested for positive breath sample."

Network Rail engineers work to remove the car from the railway tracks in Salford.

Train information website National Rail Enquiries has warned that disruption is expected to continue until the end of Friday.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “In the early hours of this morning, a car crashed on to the railway near Regent Road Roundabout in Salford causing significant damage to the railway and overhead electric cables that provide power to trains.

“As a result of this incident, no trains are able to run on the Chat Moss line impacting services from Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.

“Transport for Wales, TransPennine Express and Northern services are affected.

“Services via Warrington Central between Liverpool and Manchester are operating as normal.

“There has been significant damage to the overhead lines which will take at least eight hours to repair once the site has been cleared.

“We anticipate the earliest possible time the lines can reopen is 10pm on Friday.

“We would ask passengers travelling to the Manchester United game tonight to check before they travel.”

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