Northern Rail is offering a reward of £1,000 to catch vandals after a train struck a large metal bin in the area of Harecastle Tunnel, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday, 7 February.
The incident was reported by the driver of the 20:48 Manchester to Stoke train just before 9.50pm.
Two passengers were on the train but there were no injuries to anyone on board. However the driver was shaken by the experience and the train was taken out of service.
“The train was travelling at around 70mph when it struck the metal bin,” said Detective Inspector Steve Lewis.
“The bin caused a good deal of damage and completely disabled the train. We believe this was a deliberate act of vandalism that could have had much more tragic consequences.”
The reward is being offered for information leading to the identification and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information can contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040 quoting reference B14/NWA of 9/02/12 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
