More delays after train-deer collision spills fuel

Disruption is expected until 12:30 BST on Wednesday for rail passengers after a deer was hit by a train in Devon, resulting in a diesel spillage on tracks.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said the crash happened between Okehampton and Crediton on Tuesday evening, leaving the line blocked and services "cancelled, delayed or revised".

The Environment Agency (EA) was called to investigate the level of pollution after the train's diesel cap was knocked off during the collision, resulting in the 500-litre (110-gallon) spill. It said it was assessing if there were any impacts from the spill.

GWR said: "We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today."

GWR said the first trains ran at 09:34 from Exeter St Davids to Okehampton and 10:23 from Okehampton to Exeter St Davids.

It said: "We are now running trains, but a reduced service is running, with a train every two hours.

"Please check online journey planners to see which trains are running."

Replacement services were initially requested to run from Exeter St Davids from 09:30 and in Okehampton from 08:30, bosses said.

An EA spokesperson said its trained officers were called to the incident and were working closely with Network Rail contractors to "protect the local environment" and ensure the diesel was as "contained as much as possible".

They said: "Our officers are on site this morning, assessing pollution impacts and supporting Network Rail."

EA said it had not asked for Network Rail to close the line or any stations.

On Wednesday morning, GWR advised passengers that, if their train was cancelled, they may want to travel on either of the two services before the original train or consider "postponing" their journey until the service returned to normal.

It also said GWR passengers could travel via Stagecoach South West routes at "no extra cost", or use its replacement bus service.

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