Cable thieves cause rail misery

Rush-hour travellers on the Oldham loop line faced rail misery yesterday when 80 trains were cancelled and a further 186 delayed following the theft of 10 metres of copper cable at Miles Platting and Thorp Bridge.
Although the cable was replaced by 7am, the knock-on effect brought widespread disruption to morning services.

The latest theft comes just weeks after thieves sliced 100 metres off the track near Castleton, causing 41 trains to be cancelled and further 120 to be delayed.

So far, this year alone, there have been 143 reported cable thefts in the North-West and two previous thefts in Miles Platting in May and June.

DCI Steve Lewis, from British Transport Police, said: “Cable theft has become a major problem due to the high price of copper on world markets.

“Working with Network Rail, we have had success in reducing it, but it remains a significant disruptive factor to services.

“Thieves are putting their own lives at risk by trespassing on to the track.

“We are working with the metal recycling industry to try to ensure there is no market for stolen cable.”

Anyone with information should call free on 0800 40 50 40.