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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paige Oldfield

Car gets stuck on Eccles Metrolink line after being driven onto tram tracks

A car became stuck after it was driven onto the Eccles Metrolink line this morning.

The vehicle was pictured on the tram tracks at the Broadway stop near Salford Quays at around 10am on Wednesday (June 9).

It is unclear whether the car has now been removed from the tracks or how long the service was suspended for.

The M.E.N has contacted Metrolink for more information.

It comes after an underground fire near Victoria station suspended the entire Metrolink network this morning.

Two people suffered minor injuries in the incident, GMP have said.

Some Metrolink services have resumed while other lines remain shut.

However, transport bosses have warned disruption is likely to remain into the afternoon.

Roads are also closed due to the incident, which prompted a major emergency services response at 9.20am.

The fire service responding to the city centre incident (Martyn Wild)

In a statement, TfGM said: "A small fire – believed to have been caused by a build-up of gas – has been reported in a Metrolink chamber that has caused damage to equipment and a loss of power in the city centre. Two KAM engineers are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

"As a precautionary measure GMFRS requested that power to the Metrolink network be switched off while investigations get underway.

"While some services have now resumed, disruption is expected to continue as work to restore a full service continues – it is not currently known when this will be. Ticket acceptance is in place on local bus services."

There is a large emergency services presence in the city centre with Corporation Street and Balloon Street are still shut.

"At around 9.20am today (Wednesday 9 March 2021), police were called to reports of an incident on the Metrolink system in Manchester city centre," a spokesperson for GMP said.

"Following an underground electrical issue on Balloon Street, which would have been accompanied by a loud bang, two people have received minor injuries whilst carrying out work inside a manhole.

"Police, alongside colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance Service, are in attendance and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

"Corporation Street and Balloon Street are currently closed."

Superintendent Helen Critchley from the City of Manchester Division said: "No doubt the heavy emergency services presence, and the loud noise as a result of the electrical issue will have caused some concern - but I want to reassure the public that we are dealing with it, and believe this to be an isolated incident, which emergency services are working together on to bring to a swift conclusion.

"We would also like to ask people to please avoid the area at this time."

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