Salisbury train crash: Driver ‘trapped for two hours’

The driver of a train in the Salisbury rail crash was trapped in his cab for two hours as firefighters battled to free him, according to a source.

Seventeen people were hurt when two passenger trains collided in Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury shortly before 7pm on Sunday (October 31).

One of the trains was a Great Western Railway train from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads.

Firefighters reportedly struggled to access the rigid metal cab, first attempting to free one of the train drivers via the left-hand side and then through the roof.

They eventually managed to extricate him via the right-hand side.

For most – if not all – fire service personnel on scene it was the first time they had responded to such a train crash involving persons trapped.

The driver of the train, in his 70s, was later airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Whilst his condition is currently unknown, he is not believed to have suffered life-threatening or life-changing injuries.

In a statement at the scene yesterday, British Transport Police Inspector Mullah Hoque said: “We were called to Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at 6.46pm tonight following reports of a train derailment which involved two passenger trains colliding.

“Officers are continuing to respond to the incident alongside our emergency service colleagues and the line is expected to be shut for some time.

“Thankfully there have been no fatalities however a number of people have been injured and a casualty centre has been opened at a nearby church.

“Most of these people are walking wounded however a small number, including the driver, have been taken to hospital where their injuries are being assessed.

“A major incident has been declared and this has been a large scale, multi-agency response working closely alongside our colleagues in Wiltshire.

“We will remain on scene throughout the night working to establish the full circumstances of how this incident came to happen.”