The derailment of a York-bound train was caused by falling ice from an air-vent and could have proved fatal, a fireman has said.

45 passengers and crew had to be evacuated after the 00.38 Transpennine Express service from Manchester Airport to York came off the tracks near Todmorden at about 1.45am.

Colin Brown, watch commander at Cleckheaton Fire Station, said the train derailed to the left when it hit a large block of ice, and bounced along a wall. He said that had it derailed to the right, there would have been space for it to topple over.

He said: "It prevented a serious accident. There could have been potential fatalities. If it had jumped to the right off the track, it could have gone on to its side and could have been much worse."

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and British Transport Police are investigating the accident, but Mr Brown said it was believed the block of ice - reported locally as being the size of a car - had fallen from an air vent.

He said: "Ice has built up after water leaked down into a vent. It built up and quite a large block of ice formed inside, then oviously became detached. The train going through hit the block, and I've been told it was the size of a car."

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