Train crash at Port Soderick

Between 10.30 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. this morning (Monday 19^th May 2008) the locomotive Loch was approaching the platform at Port Soderick when it was in collision with a tradesman’s van, which had pulled out in front of the train.

The driver and firemen said as they came around the corner the van started to drive across the track and, although they applied the brakes, they were too close to stop. They described the impact more as a ‘shunt’ rather than a full blown collision; with the momentum of the train just slowly pushing the van a short distance along the platform.

As the southbound train was, fortunately, travelling at a fairly slow speed it suffered relatively little damage; and, although the van was not so lucky, the driver escaped unscathed.

Emergency services were called, including two fire tenders, but as it turned out their services were not required.

All the carriages stayed on the tracks and, although a little shaken, none of the passengers are believed to have been injured.