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Train windscreen smashed by vandals after scooter, rock and masonry thrown

Damaged windscreen of East Midlands Railway Class 170 after it was hit by an object thrown at it. EMR.

A train windscreen has been smashed in a series of acts of vandalism near Loughborough.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has launched an appeal to help track down those responsible for three incidents at Allsops Bridge in February.

On February 3 a large scooter was thrown off the bridge, damaging a train passing underneath.

EMR said that on February 16, “several items of builders' waste and masonry were dropped onto the track, and a rock was also thrown at a train”.

The following day, a large object was thrown from the same bridge, smashing the windscreen of a Class 170.

In total 21 trains have been affected, with 214 minutes of delays racked up.

A rock found on the track after it was thrown at Allsops Bridge near Loughborough. EMR.

Danielle Clarke, Community Safeguarding and Security Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: "These acts are not pranks or a bit of harmless fun, but incredibly dangerous crimes that put customers and staff at serious risk of injury or worse. They also lead to trains being damaged, delayed, and services being cancelled.”

She urged anyone seeing items being thrown or placed on tracks to contact British Transport Police.

Building materials left on the track at Allsops Bridge near Loughborough. EMR.

Dan Matthews, Head of Operations Delivery for Network Rail, said: "These acts of vandalism not only put lives at serious risk but also cause significant disruption to our rail network.

"We work closely with train operators like EMR and British Transport Police to prevent such incidents and catch those responsible. We urge anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour on or around our railways to report it immediately.

"The safety of passengers and railway staff is our top priority, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise this."



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