Race on to restore rail power after plane crash

Published on Saturday 3 January 2009 19:21

ENGINEERS are spending the weekend working to restore power to the West Coast Main Line following a fatal air crash.

Three people died when a light aircraft crashed into power lines above the tracks on Friday.

Severing overhead power cables, the Piper Cherokee aircraft ploughed into the lines just minutes after an express service had passed.

On Friday night, all rail services between Rugby and Stafford were suspended, causing a weekend of travel disruption affecting journeys between London Euston and Glasgow.

It is hoped that the delays will be resolved before many return to work after the Christmas and New Year holidays on Monday morning. Main lines to Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool were today still subject to diversions, delays and reduced services.

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said that trains were running every hour between London Euston and Glasgow Central. "The trains between London and Glasgow are expected to take between 45 and 60 minutes longer. The rail company is working on a different route to avoid the crash site.

"We are working on clearing the debris and restoring power to the area through the weekend. The line is expected to reopen at 5am on Monday, 5 January."

The pilot of the aircraft has been identified as 59-year old Alan Matthews from Walsall, who was flying with Nick and Emma O'Brien, a married couple who had two children. Matthews, registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club near Lichfield, has had 19 years' flying experience.

Post mortem examinations are due to be carried out today.