'I just heard this thump as our train hit a tree'

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Jim Fleming praised the actions of the "outstanding" conductor after the collision

A rail passenger has told of the moment the train he was travelling on hit a large tree that had been brought down by a storm.

Jim Fleming was travelling on the Transpennine Express service from Manchester to Glasgow when it was brought to a standstill at Lostock on the outskirts of Bolton.

Network Rail said strong winds had brought "several trees down overnight causing damage to overhead lines" in the Lostock area.

Fleming, of Bolton, told the BBC: "I just heard this thump and then this scraping and dragging noise and I actually thought the train had derailed." The 51-year-old data consultant added: "It came to a sudden halt. I was in the very first carriage and that was the carriage that got hit."

Fleming was on the first train of the day, which had left just before 05:00 GMT and said, thankfully, the train driver had slowed down before he hit the tree at about 05:30 GMT. He said: "In less than a minute he saw the tree but it was too late."

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The passengers were moved to first class before everyone was escorted off the train by the fire service. The passengers were later driven to Preston, Lancashire.

Fleming praised the train conductor who was "absolutely tremendous".

"He was so cheery, he was going up and down the carriage making sure everybody was fine."

Similar happened today closer to home.

Train hit a tree near Avoncliff and a passenger needed to be conveyed to hospital by ambulance.