A DRIVER took a wrong turn down a train track and came face-to-face with a Metro train.The 40-year-old woman had driven on to the track at Fawdon in Newcastle and travelled hundreds of metres before her vehicle broke down as a train approached.
Her Mercedes was found on the tracks between Wansbeck and Fawdon stations and all trains had to be stopped as police and Nexus staff went to the scene.
The incident happened at around 11pm last night.
Police arrested the woman, who is believed to have been drinking, while it took three hours to get the vehicle out of the danger zone.
Nexus had to put on a taxi service for passengers travelling between Kingston Park and Regent Centre while the recovery work went on.
The driver is being questioned today and is helping police with their inquiries.
A Nexus spokesman said: “There was a police incident last night when a car was driven on to the railway, east of Fawdon level crossing.
“The driver of an approaching train travelling towards the airport saw the car and brought his train to a stop under normal braking more than 50 metres from the vehicle.
“The service was suspended for the rest of the evening between Regent Centre and Kingston Park, while a train continued to run between the airport and Kingston Park. We arranged taxis to get our passengers safely home.
“Engineers worked through the night to help remove the car and ensure the track and overhead lines were safe.
“Services started as normal this morning.”
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “The woman drove on to the tracks and a Metro driver saw her.
“He was travelling slow so he could stop.
“We had to stop the trains and she was arrested.
“Then we had to remove the vehicle from the track.
“It happened between Fawdon and Wansbeck stations and Nexus had to put on an alternative service for people travelling on the Metro in that area.
“It could have been potentially horrendous.”
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