A tractor driver has been filmed dumping, what Network Rail believes to be, floodwater into the station car park at Hartford, in Cheshire.

A passer-by filmed the incident at Hartford Station near Northwich in Cheshire on Wednesday 20th January 2021 as floods and heavy rain caused chaos in the region.

The footage shows the tractor and slurry trailer being reversed into the station entrance before the driver gets out and releases thousands of litres of water down the station access road and onto the West Coast Main Line.

Storm Christoph closed several railway lines in the North West, but this incident caused the Crewe to Warrington line to close.

Floodwater can cause the ballast to wash away, making the lines unstable and unsafe to use.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “When we were already struggling with Storm Christoph, this cynical opportunist decided to use the railway as their own personal sewer.

“Seeing this video made my blood boil. We will be working with police to take the strongest action possible against this tractor driver for damaging the railway, delaying people and goods, and potentially putting the lives of passengers and workers at risk.”

The video was filmed by a member of the public between 4 pm and 8 pm on Wednesday 20th January 2021 and this has now been passed on to the British Transport Police.

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