Man dies after being hit by train near Saltaire station (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Man dies after being hit by train near Saltaire station
5:36pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News
By Claire Armstrong, T&A Reporter
Police officers are pictured in Saltaire after the incident
A man died after being hit by a train near Saltaire station yesterday.
The fatality led to widespread delays across the rail network as British Transport Police had to close the line to investigate.
The man, who has not yet been named, was hit by Northern Rail’s 10.17am Skipton to Leeds service as it passed through Saltaire at about 10.45am.
The emergency services were called and the man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Police are not treating his death as suspicious.
British Transport Police temporarily closed the line between Shipley and Keighley, causing 14 Northern Rail services to be cancelled.
The line reopened just before noon, but delays of up to an hour continued throughout the afternoon, affecting services from Saltaire, Shipley, Bradford Forster Square, Leeds, Bingley, Crossflats, Keighley, Steeton and Silsden, Cononley, Skipton, Settle, Dent, Appleby and Carlisle.
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP officers were called to the line close to Saltaire station on Friday, March 8, following reports of a man being struck by a train.
“Officers from BTP and West Yorkshire Police attended the incident, which was reported to police at 10.50am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious. Medics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service also attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the man’s identity and inform his family.”
The spokesman said a file was being prepared for the coroner’s office.
The Samaritans will be visiting Saltaire station from 10am to noon today to offer support and comfort to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
One of the team, Bob Howe, said: “It could be people on a train, it could be people on a platform, it could be someone for whom it brings back awful memories from the past, it could even be a member of staff at the station or a conductor or train driver.
“It’s not a ghoulish way to go over the incident, but it can bring out troubling emotions in people and sometimes people do need to talk.”
To speak to the Samaritans, call 08457 90 90 90.
