Yesterday, delays were caused to trains in Manchester City Centre after a helium balloon was caught in overhead wires.

Delays were caused to trains running between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central stations.

The 25,000-volt overhead cables power the trains on one of the busiest sections of line in the country and the electricity had to be switched off so that the ballon could be removed safely.

Network Rail have once again issued a safety plea to members of the public not to let helium balloons loose close to the railway.

Back in August delays were caused to trains on the West Coast mainline after a balloon became entangled in overhead cables.

Trains to Liverpool were delayed in June due to another balloon in the cables near Prescot.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “While helium balloons are fun, they pose a real safety and performance risk to the railway. Fortunately our engineers quickly removed this balloon before it could seriously delay passengers and freight. Please keep helium balloons away from the railway.”

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