jjcollins
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,394
A passenger train has exploded after crashing into the platform of a station and there are unconfirmed reports of fatalities and people trapped in the wreckage.
'Significant casualties'
The accident happened just outside Potters Bar, Hertfordshire - two miles south of Hatfield where a GNER express came off the tracks in October 2000, in a crash which claimed four lives.
Steve Jones, spokesman for Hertfordshire Ambulance Service, said: "We believe there is a significant number of casualties.
"When this sort of thing happens you fear the worst so we always gear up for the worst."
Reports say three carriages of the four carriage train derailed with the last one mounting the station - slamming into the platform roof.
An eyewitness said the train derailed after crossing a road bridge near Potters Bar station.
Debris
Debris from the bridge has reportedly fallen onto Darkes Lane, one of the main roads into Potters Bar. It is also believed debris covered the railway station car park.
A Sainsbury's store near the scene is being used as a first aid post.
The train was the 12.45pm West Anglia Great Northern service travelling from London's King's Cross to King's Lynn in Norfolk.
Eyewitness Prakash Maehta told Sky News he had heard "a bang", and added: "There might be quite a lot of people injured."
"The last carriage is practically on the platform."
A police spokesman confirmed there were walking wounded and said: "We're treating this as a major incident.
jj.......
'Significant casualties'
The accident happened just outside Potters Bar, Hertfordshire - two miles south of Hatfield where a GNER express came off the tracks in October 2000, in a crash which claimed four lives.
Steve Jones, spokesman for Hertfordshire Ambulance Service, said: "We believe there is a significant number of casualties.
"When this sort of thing happens you fear the worst so we always gear up for the worst."
Reports say three carriages of the four carriage train derailed with the last one mounting the station - slamming into the platform roof.
An eyewitness said the train derailed after crossing a road bridge near Potters Bar station.
Debris
Debris from the bridge has reportedly fallen onto Darkes Lane, one of the main roads into Potters Bar. It is also believed debris covered the railway station car park.
A Sainsbury's store near the scene is being used as a first aid post.
The train was the 12.45pm West Anglia Great Northern service travelling from London's King's Cross to King's Lynn in Norfolk.
Eyewitness Prakash Maehta told Sky News he had heard "a bang", and added: "There might be quite a lot of people injured."
"The last carriage is practically on the platform."
A police spokesman confirmed there were walking wounded and said: "We're treating this as a major incident.
jj.......
