Manchester Piccadilly station closed due to trespass by protesters - 11 Mar 2018

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Station closed by a protest, middle eastern politics I think.
Protesters have trespassed onto the tracks and attempted to climb electrification structures.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-43363588

[chuffed]

At least they had some trains to stop, which is much more than can be said of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in this part of the world. Apart from the rugby, how many family Mothering Sunday plans were ruined ?? Would not be surprised if all of those affected EVER set foot on a train again.

[trainer]

It would seem that Cross Country will also suffer from delays today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-43363588

It seems that for some people their cause is so important they will stop you from travelling even at risk to themselves.  Protesters against a political decision in another country stop trains in Manchester. 

Edit* Written while Broadgage was writing his entry at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19457.msg233218#msg233218

Since his was first, better to use that thread.

[onthecushions]

The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) reported this as a protest "against Turkish support for IS" - which suggests a Kurdish link.

They may or may not be right but the penalty for trespassing upon the railway in England is quite severe and should be exacted rigorously against everyone involved. I suspect that they were merely evicted from the premises.

The idea of protesters trying to climb electrification masts (after all that has been done (and spent) to keep them 3.5m away) is appalling.

OTC (Lancastrian)

[TaplowGreen]

They'd have been pretty safe in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) land, so few trains running today no-one would have noticed them!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Edit* Written while Broadgage was writing his entry at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19457.msg233218#msg233218

Since his was first, better to use that thread.

Thanks, trainer.  Topics now moved and merged, as you suggested. CfN. 

[trainer]

Looks like they've managed to shut down King's Cross as well according to NRE^‡(resolve) but are outside the station.

On the Twitter feed you are directed to by NRE for info on Manchester, there are images of small children in the middle of the tracks.  This is increasingly serious in many ways.

#ManchesterPiccadilly

[Timmer]

Looks like they've managed to shut down King's Cross as well according to NRE^‡(resolve) but are outside the station.

On the Twitter feed you are directed to by NRE for info on Manchester, there are images of small children in the middle of the tracks.  This is increasingly serious in many ways.

#ManchesterPiccadilly

I imagine BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) were either tipped off or saw what happened at Man Picc and sent extra police to major termini. I respect people’s right to protest but there is a time and a place and railway stations are not the place.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Manchester Piccadilly railway reopens after protest


Protesters at Manchester Piccadilly station blocked all railway lines

Manchester Piccadilly railway station has reopened after about 100 protesters stormed the railway lines.

Campaigners blocked the tracks and some tried to climb overhead line equipment, National Rail said.

Crowds of people thought to be opposed to Turkey's war with Syrian Kurds held banners which read "stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists".

Virgin Trains said protesters had been removed and services have resumed. Some may be subject to alterations.


The protesters were on the tracks

Supt Mark Cleland, of British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)), said: "While we appreciate and respect the right to peaceful protest, when this compromises the safety of the public and the protesters themselves, any offenders will attract the full investigative resources of BTP.  Those involved in this afternoon's incident will be subject to intense investigation with a view to arrest and prosecution.  We will continue to maintain a police presence at this station and at other stations across the rail network."

Officers were called to reports 100 people were protesting at Piccadilly station shortly after 13:00 GMT.

Meanwhile, Pro-Kurdish protesters demonstrating about Turkey's military offensive in Afrin, Syria, have clashed with Turks and German police at Duesseldorf airport, leaving several people injured, said Agence France Presse.  Police used pepper spray against some demonstrators.


One of the protesters said the British government has not defended the people of Afrin

One activist in Manchester told the BBC the protest was over the "British government's silence" over the Afrin region.  She said: "They haven't defended the people of Afrin. Thousands of people are being killed and the Turkish troops are getting closer and closer to the city centre."

Another protester apologised for people being delayed but said "innocent people are being killed".

One passenger tweeted she was stuck on a packed train at Piccadilly station "going nowhere" when the railway line protest started.  She said protesters were holding up their babies and taking photos of each other on the tracks.

Sophy Colbert said on Twitter there was "around 100 people on the tracks" and it was "getting a bit heated".  She was handed a leaflet entitled "Stop Turkey's war crimes and crime against humanity".

The closure caused disruption elsewhere, with Russ Neil tweeting: "Stockport rammed now with people attempting to get back to Euston."

The Leeds to Manchester Airport service was also affected.

[JayMac]

National Rail Enquiries' reason for one train's delay:



Bit harsh. 

[Timmer]

For people who missed their flights out of Manchester Airport yesterday I would imagine that would have been one of the more polite ways to describe the protesters.