Audenshaw LIVE: Train derails with huge emergency service response at scene

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement that one person sustained "minor injuries" after a train came off the tracks this morning.

"Officers are assisting following reports of a freight train derailing in Sidmouth Street, Audenshaw," the force said.

"One person has received minor injuries and officers are on scene to support emergency service colleagues."

A cordon remains in place at the scene, Manchester Evening News reports.

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it is "aware of a freight train derailment on the Stockport to Stalybridge line in Greater Manchester.

"A team of inspectors has been sent to the accident site to gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a preliminary examination and a decision on whether or not a full investigation will be launched will be taken in the coming days," they added.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) told Express.co.uk: “At around 11.35am on Friday (September 6) three fire engines from Ashton, Stalybridge and Gorton fire stations alongside the Technical Response Unit from Leigh fire station were called to reports of a freight train derailment near to Sidmouth Street, Audenshaw.

“Firefighters worked alongside colleagues from Network Rail and British Transport Police to make the area safe before handing the incident over to them.

"Crews were in attendance for around one and a half hours.”

A spokesperson for British Transport Police told M.E.N.: "British Transport Police were called to the line near in Audenshaw just after 11.40am today (September 6) following reports of a freight train derailment.

"Thankfully no one was injured. Officers remain at the scene and the line remains closed while the scene is being cleared and investigated.

Enquiries are ongoing, the force said.

Network Rail has confirmed that no one has been injured in the derailment in Tameside and the driver of the train is safe.

“At around 11:30 today we received a report that a freight train had come off the tracks at low speed near Denton," the firm said in a statement.

"The train was carrying aggregates and was headed for Manchester Hope Street.

"There were no injuries and the driver is safe. This is a freight only line and the area will remain blocked until the train can be moved.

"Freight trains that are scheduled to be using this route will be diverted.

"As a precaution, Sidmouth Street is closed for safety reasons.”

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service also confirmed there had been no casualties.

British Transport Police has sent up a drone to observe the derailment in Tameside.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around midday.

Details are yet to emerge about what caused the train to come off the tracks.

Greater Manchester Police, the Northwest Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for comment.

The train numbers 6J46 (66729 and 66747) derailed between Denton and Ashton Moss, Tameside Correspondent reports, with 10 wagons left "in the dirt".

It is not thought to be a passenger train.

Houses in the local area shook when the train came off the tracks, with fears that an earthquake was taking place, a local says.

"I was on a work call and heard an enormous scraping as the whole house began to shake," he told M.E.N.

"Spoke with neighbours closer to the line who noted pictures falling from the walls - everyone thought we were having an earthquake."

Local reports suggest the train toppled on its side at a 45 degree angle, as emergency services attended the scene.

It's not yet clear whether anyone was hurt in the incident.

The freight train, which has come off the tracks close a bridge over Sidmouth Street, could have caused a major disaster had it been going at speed, an eyewitness says.

"It's properly off the tracks," they told MEN. "It's a freight train and one of the units. It's just after a bridge, the derailed unit is just as it comes off the bridge.

"If this had come off the tracks properly, it would have been coming through houses. It would have been a major disaster if this thing had been going at any speed.

"It's a serious thing. It'll be interesting later on when they move the unit, because they're going to need to lift it."

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this breaking news incident.

The Express.co.uk team will be bringing you live updates after a train derailed in Audenshaw in Greater Manchester.

Follow along for more information.