Person dies after being hit by a freight train on the Leicester to Harborough railway line

The tragedy happened just after 4am this morning (Wednesday)
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A person has died after they were hit by a freight train on the Leicester to Market Harborough railway line in the early hours today (Wednesday).

The tragedy happened when the victim was hit by the heavy goods train just south of Leicester railway station just after 4am.

The tragic incident sparked a full-scale 999 emergency services response.

A person has died after they were hit by a freight train on the Leicester to Market Harborough railway line in the early hours today (Wednesday).A person has died after they were hit by a freight train on the Leicester to Market Harborough railway line in the early hours today (Wednesday).
A person has died after they were hit by a freight train on the Leicester to Market Harborough railway line in the early hours today (Wednesday).

British Transport Police and Leicestershire Police as well as paramedics and firefighters all dashed to the scene after the alarm was raised.

The casualty, who has not been named, was killed instantly as they were declared dead at the scene.

An East Midlands Railway spokeswoman said: “We were called at 4.17am to a report of person being hit by a freight train just south of Leicester railway station.

“The person was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.”

A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “We were called to an incident on the railway track near Leicester railway station at about 4am.

“British Transport Police are leading on this matter.”

East Midlands Railway said the devastating incident hit some early-morning mainline services.

Hundreds of rush-hour commuters from the Harborough area were affected as Intercity trains were diverted between Leicester and Kettering.

But trains were back up and running normally and calling at Market Harborough station again by 8am today.