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Transport police investigating near-tragedy after kids ‘playing on line’ at Carrbridge





Carrbridge Station, looking north (friends of the station)
Carrbridge Station, looking north (friends of the station)

It’s reported that a train driver had to stop his train last night after coming dangerously close to children ‘playing chicken’ on the line at Carrbridge Station.

Confirmation is yet to come from British Transport Police, who are handling enquiries into the incident, but Carrbridge Community Announcements posted on social media that it had been asked to “make people aware of some youths playing chicken on the railway line up at the station tonight.

“The train driver is very badly shaken by this, had to stop the train further up the track.”

Highland Police told the Strathy that the incident would be handled by the BTP as it had taken place on the railway line.

The event happened round about 9pm last night and it’s understood that it involved the 17.31 from Edinburgh to Inverness, which was due into the Highland capital at 9.14pm.

“The train does not stop in Carrbridge and this was a near fatality,” the local Facebook announcement posted.

“The train has CCTV footage so the police have been informed.”

The British Transport Police told the Strathy that they would provide information as it became available to them.

One of the passengers on the train was independent Highland councillor for Inverness South Duncan Macpherson, who told the Strathy: “It was the Edinburgh to Inverness train, returning on from the rugby international match between Scotland and Italy and it was unexpectedly delayed for over 30 minutes at Carrbridge Railway Station due to an incident on the track

“Not leaves on the line - but kids on the track!”

Mr Macpherson added: “The female conductor on the ScotRail train told passengers that the safety incident involved children on the railway track and because it was a near-miss incident, they couldn’t take any chances of proceeding without it being reported to the police and them being given the all-clear to proceed with the journey north.

“It was due to arrive in to Inverness railway station at 21.14pm. As a result of the delay for what one passenger described as ‘children playing chicken on the railway line’ it was not likely to arrive into Inverness until approaching 10pm

“Most of the passengers onboard were terminating their journeys at Inverness, however around 18 of them were requiring transfers to their onward journeys North to Tain and East to Elgin.

“They were advised that ScotRail would do everything possible to delay the connecting trains at Inverness to accommodate them, or lay on alternative transport for these 18 passengers to get home.

Councillor Macpherson caught the clock at Inverness as the train finally arrived home after 'kids on the track' had held it up at Carrbridge.
Councillor Macpherson caught the clock at Inverness as the train finally arrived home after 'kids on the track' had held it up at Carrbridge.

“When we reached Inverness Station the time was approaching 10 to 10pm.”

The train to Tain had indeed been held back at platform 5 and passengers were directed across the railway station to board the northbound train.

“The passengers looking to reach Elgin were advised that ScotRail couldn’t delay the train to Moray and instead passengers could board the next scheduled train heading east within the hour.”


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