Northern train hits a chair on the track to Widnes

Northern revealed that one of its trains collided with an object placed on the tracks heading from Warrington Central into Widnes.

This information was revealed by Northern in a press release highlighting the broad decrease in number of attacks against trains in the last 12 months.

According to the rail operator, there were almost 70 incidents against trains last year - this year, that number is down to just eight.

The train collided with a chair between Warrington Central and Widnes (Image: Newsquest)

One of those incidents was when a train collided with a chair between Warrington and Widnes.

The statistics relate to trains being struck by objects thrown from bridges, railway embankments and stations or those which collide with ‘substantial items’ deliberately placed on the track.

The eight suspicious incidents recorded this year were:

• A service from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple that was struck by stones thrown at Hyde North station
• A service from Leeds to Skipton that was targeted with a brick at Kirkstall Forge station
• A service from Clitheroe to Rochdale that collided with a ‘Zimmer’ frame placed on the tracks at Hall 'i' th' Wood
• A service from Warrington Central to Liverpool Lime Street that hit a chair placed on the tracks at Widnes
• A service outbound from Blackpool North that collided with a drainpipe thrown onto the track
• A service from York to Leeds that struck an unknown object at Marston Moor
• A service from Southport to Manchester Oxford Road that struck an unknown object at Patricroft
• And a service from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square that was targeted with pellets fired from an air gun.

There were five additional reports of trains striking objects on the track, however these were attributed to strong winds during bad weather and are not being treated as suspicious. 

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “Each and every incident recorded represents a serious danger to the passengers and train crew involved and we appeal to anyone involved in this criminal activity to stop.

“Fortunately, the appetite for committing these senseless acts is clearly in decline – not least of all because the chance of being ‘caught on camera’ is now far greater.

“That said, we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels.

"These statistics should stand at zero and we will continue to work with community partners across the region and our colleagues at Network Rail to identify the perpetrators and support British Transport Police with any prosecutions brought before the courts.”