Three people have been arrested after a car was driven onto railway tracks during a police chase near Melksham this morning (Tuesday).
Roads policing officers were pursuing a silver Vauxhall Insignia when the driver took the vehicle onto a live line at around 2.30am.
The driver of an oncoming freight train was forced to make an emergency stop, avoiding a collision with the car and fleeing suspects.
Wiltshire Police confirmed that the Vauxhall, which was linked to multiple thefts, had failed to stop – before driving onto the railway.
Two men were arrested for an array of offences shortly after the incident, while a woman was arrested for assisting an offender.
“Reminder of the day: cars aren’t trains”, a spokesperson for the force’s Roads Police Unit commented.
As a result of the car on the tracks, trains are unable to run between Trowbridge and Chippenham. Wiltshire 999s understands that a crane may be sourced to recover the car.
It’s affecting services running between Swindon and Westbury, with many diverted. Trains are unable to serve Melksham and disruption is expected until around midday.
A spokesperson for Great Western Railway said: “Due to an obstruction on the track between Chippenham and Trowbridge the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:00 17/03.
“A car has been driven on to the line between Trowbridge and Chippenham.
“Network Rail are making arrangements to have the car removed, until this is done we are unable to run trains.
“Where possible our services between Swindon and Westbury will divert via an alternative route, in both directions, but this will be mean we are unable to serve Melksham.”
