Latest on Blackpool North services after man arrested for climbing bridge at Preston
All train services are running as scheduled at Blackpool this morning after an emergency incident saw the line blocked for hours in Preston yesterday.
There were major delays to services after a man climbed onto the railway bridge crossing Avenham Park in the city at 9.30am on Monday (March 9).
Emergency services were called to the scene and British Transport Police said they were dealing with a ‘trespass incident’. A man in his 40s was rescued from a ‘precarious position’ on the bridge and arrested on suspicion of Obstructing the Railway.
However, as of last night, he has been de-arrested and detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
The incident affected services at Blackpool North, with journeys delayed or suspended until the line was cleared at around 12pm. All services are running as scheduled at the station today.
A spokesperson for the force said: "Officers were called to the line in Preston at 9.30am (Monday, March 9) following reports of a person in a precarious position.
“Officers attended alongside colleagues from other emergency services and a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of Obstructing the Railway.”
Railway trespass
It is a criminal offence to trespass on railway lines in the UK, often resulting in a maximum fine of £1,000.
Trespassers, including anyone aged 10 and over, can be taken to court, fined, and may receive a criminal record. It is illegal to step on tracks, surrounding land, or areas not open to the public.