A British Transport Police (BTP) officer described a train driver in Darlington as having a “lucky escape” after narrowly avoiding a collision with two concrete troughing lids.
The driver slammed on the emergency brakes and managed to stop the passenger service, which had been travelling at 40mph, as it approached Dinsdale station on July 26.
PC Gary Sykes, the investigating officer, said: “Two concrete troughing lids were ripped up from the side of the track and carried four to six feet before being deliberately placed onto the tracks.
“Due to the quick thinking actions of the driver, luckily the train narrowly avoided striking them, but this mindless act of vandalism could have been a lot worse. If the train had struck the troughing it could have easily derailed, causing serious injuries or even worse; the driver and passengers had a lucky escape.
“We believe it may have been more than one person responsible for this reckless crime due to the weight of the lids, and the distance they were carried, it would have been extremely difficult for one person to lift them on their own.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have any information which may be able to assist us in finding those responsible for this crime to contact us.”
