British Transport Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death on the line near Stoke
14:08, 16 Jan 2026Updated 14:08, 16 Jan 2026
(Image: Network Rail)
A key section of the West Coast Mainline was closed today after a fatality on the line through Stoke-on-Trent.
British Transport Police (BTP) has confirmed a death of a person on the tracks near Longport railway station in Stoke-on-Trent. The incident prompted the closure of the line between Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent, and warnings that services would be delayed or cancelled.
A spokeswoman has told the Manchester Evening News: “We were called to Longport station at around 11.10am this morning (Friday) following reports of a casualty on the tracks.
“Officers attended along with paramedics but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
National Rail warned services would be disrupted. A statement said: “As all lines are currently closed, trains will be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.”
Major disruption is expected until at least 4pm.
National Rail has confirmed that Avanti West Coast services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston were affected by the incident.The other affected routes are CrossCountry between Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Temple Meads/Bournemouth/Paignton, East Midlands Railway services between Crewe and Lincoln, London Northwestern Railway services between Crewe and Stafford and Northern services between Mancester Piccadilly and Stoke-on-Trent.
Avanti West Coast customers were told tickets can be be used at no extra cost on CrossCountry services ‘via any reasonable route’, East Midlands Railway services ‘via any reasonable route’, Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe in both directions and Transport for Wales services between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe in both directions.
