A TRAIN to York was derailed today by a block of ice, reportedly the size of a car.

Crew members and 45 passengers were evacuated from the 00.38 Transpennine Express service from Manchester Airport to York, after its front wheels came off the tracks near Todmorden at about 1.45am.

Nobody was injured, but one firefighter said it could have been "a lot, lot worse".

The train was travelling through the Summit Tunnel, in Walsden in the Pennines, when the block of ice forced it off the track.

Firefighters from East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester attended the scene as well as a technical rescue vehicle.

The passengers were taken to the Todmorden Sports Centre, in Ewood Lane, after the accident.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “An investigation is underway.

"The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and British Transport Police were on site this morning and we started trying to move the train at lunchtime.”

He said the derailment had not caused disruption because services were not running today anyway, due to strike action by train conductors.

He said: “We hope it will be cleared by the time services resume at 6am tomorrow.”

The service only calls at Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds on its way to York.

The fire crew from Cleckheaton used the technical rescue vehicle to escort the passengers from the train and fitted lighting to the tunnel.

Watch manager Gary Hatton said: “It could have been a lot, lot worse.”

Were you on the train or do you know any of the passengers? email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk or phone 01904 567131 or tweet us @yorkpress