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c2c Services Disrupted After Man Electrocuted

27th June 2012
Posted by Gateway 97.8

c2c services between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness were suspended for almost 6 hours this morning, after a man died after receiving an electric shock whilst trespassing on the railway.

The incident happened at approximately 6am near Castle Lane in Hadleigh, after a train driver reported damage to overhead power cables and a body lying close to the tracks between Benfleet and Leigh-on-Sea.

Emergency services attended the scene, where it was confirmed the person was deceased and that a live electrical cable carrying 25,000 volts had been completely severed, which police thinking he may have been cutting.

Dave Ward from Network rail had this warning: “This incident shows in the clearest possible terms the dangers of trespassing on the railway. Unfortunately this person has paid the ultimate price.”

c2c services were cancelled just before 7 o’clock this morning, with passengers advised to use Greater Anglia services from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street. Both lines on c2c were reopened again by 11:30am.

British Transport Police have released this statement:

“At 6.51am BTP were called to the Castle Lane area of Hadleigh, Essex between Benfleet and Leigh-on-Sea following a report of disruption to power lines in the area and a body on the railway embankment.

“BTP, Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service and Network Rail attended the scene and the body of a man in his 40s was found beside the line. He appears to have been electrocuted.

“This death is currently being treated as unexplained. The possibility that this death is related to an attempted cable theft is one line of enquiry at this time.”

Cable theft is now the biggest cause of delay and disruption to trains.
 
Published by Jack Sullivan, 3:34pm Wednesday 27th June 2012