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Man dies after train hits van on crossing

Marc WaddingtonNorth West
News imageBBC Image shows a train stopped on a railway line, with fields on either side. An official in a hi-vis jacket can be seen standing in front of it. BBC
British Transport Police said a man who was travelling in a van died in the incident

A man has died after a train hit a van on a railway line.

The incident happened on a crossing in Burscough, West Lancashire, just after 15:00 BST.

British Transport Police (BTP) said a man who was in the van died at the scene, and two passengers on the Wigan Wallgate-Southport train suffered minor injuries.

A BTP spokesman said: "Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened."

News imageImage shows a field in which police vehicles, an ambulance and a fire engine can be seen.
A large emergency services presence is on the scene close to the railway line in Burscough

A large emergency services operation was launched, with police, fire and ambulance vehicles on the scene and in nearby farmland.

Passengers could be seen being helped down from the train by emergency services teams.

Operator Northern said there would be "major disruption", with "all lines blocked" by an "incident between Wigan Wallgate and Southport".

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