Northern is appealing for information after a group of vandals caused “major disruption” and numerous service cancellations by throwing a log at a train travelling at 100mph through Bolton yesterday.
According to train providers Northern and Network rail the incident happened on the Manchester side of Farnworth Tunnel in Bolton just before 6.30pm on Monday, and it resulted in a smashed window and caused a brief fire on the service – which was travelling from Blackpool North to Hazel Grove with more than 100 passengers on-board.
Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident – which is now being investigated by British Transport Police – and everyone was safely evacuated from the train, before it was moved from the scene so that repairs to the railway could take place.
As well as damaging the train, the vandals also wrecked more than 200 metres of the complex web of 25,000 volt overhead electric cable which power trains, as well as the structures and equipment which hold them up.
Network Rail engineers worked throughout the night to get the wires fixed.
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📸These pictures are the reason trains between Bolton and Manchester were severely delayed❌🚆
🚨Vandals threw a log into the path of an oncoming @northernassist train near Farnworth Tunnel last night 😲
— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) March 15, 2022
More than 31 other trains were delayed as a result of the incident on Monday evening and into yesterday morning.
Trains were cancelled for hundreds of passengers due to “major disruption”.
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Speaking on the incident and appealing for information, Chris Jackson – Regional Director at Northern – said: “This was totally reckless behaviour by mindless individuals who gave no thought for other people’s safety [and] the consequences of a log hitting a fast-moving train are potentially devastating.
“I urge anyone with information as to the identities of those responsible to contact British Transport Police.”
The incident happened on the Manchester side of Farnworth Tunnel just before 6.30pm on Monday / Credit: Northern
“I’m disgusted by this dangerous and reckless act of vandalism, as the people responsible put the safety of our passengers and colleagues at risk,” added Network Rail’s North West route director, Phil James.
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“They have caused thousands of pounds of damage to the railway infrastructure and significantly disrupted services travelling between Manchester and Bolton.
“We are working closely with the British Transport Police to catch the culprits.”
You can contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, or alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Emily Sergeant -
16th March 2022 
