At the very least 12 individuals have been damage tonight when a passenger prepare hit an object in a tunnel, derailed and a second prepare smashed into it.
The incident occurred on the road simply north of Salisbury station in Wiltshire at round 7.20pm.
A number of dozen passengers have been pressured to stroll down the darkened tracks to security after the crash.
The driving force of one of many trains was trapped in his cab earlier than being freed by rescuers. He was not believed to have been critically injured, and police confirmed nobody had died within the incident.
It's understood {that a} Portsmouth Harbour service to Bristol Temple Meads hit an object because it got here out of the tunnel and induced the rear carriage to derail and smash into signalling.
A South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton is then reported to have collided with the rear of the derailed prepare.
Quite a few individuals have been injured within the crash, however British Transport Police stated they have been 'grateful' nobody had died.
Locals who reside round a mile away described listening to an enormous bang 'like a bomb going off' because the trains collided.
Tamar Vellacott instructed reporters that she was strolling together with her younger youngsters, mom and accomplice on Jewell Shut, Bishopdown, round half a mile from the scene.
'It was a noise we have by no means heard earlier than, my younger ones began panicking considering it was a bomb and we stated perhaps a lorry had crashed on the London Street and to not panic,' stated the 25-year-old.
'There was no screeching like brakes, only a lengthy rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us although, so we determined to get in our automobile and drive residence. Three police automobiles handed us at pace.'
Signalling for the realm has been worn out, with South Western Railway warning that each one traces operating by means of Salisbury and Andover are at present blocked whereas an investigation takes place.
Footage from the scene reveals passengers strolling alongside the tracks in direction of security as emergency employees use flashlights to information them by means of darkness.
At the very least two helicopters have landed on the scene, in line with experiences.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps stated investigations into the crash could be undertaken to be able to assist forestall related 'severe' incidents in future.
'My ideas exit to these affected by the intense rail incident close to Salisbury,' Mr Shapps tweeted.
'Emergency providers on scene & we're working intently with @networkrail & operators. The @railgovuk & @railandroad will examine. We have to perceive how this occurred to forestall sooner or later.'
A Community Rail spokesperson stated: 'At round 7pm this night, the rear carriage of the 1708 Nice Western Railway service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads derailed after hanging an object on its method to Salisbury station.
'The derailment knocked out the entire signalling within the space. Subsequently, the 1720 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton then collided with the Bristol prepare.
'There are experiences of accidents and the emergency providers are on web site together with railway first responders.'
The derailed GWR prepare tipped on to its aspect, however the South Western Railway prepare is upright however off the tracks, photos from the scene confirmed.
A vital incident has been declared and the road will stay closed on the nation finish of Salisbury.
British Transport Police stated a casualty centre has been arrange at St Mark's Church, in St Mark's Avenue within the metropolis.
Disruption to providers within the space is anticipated to final by means of to the top of the day.
British Transport Police stated: 'We're at present responding to an incident at Fisherton Tunnel, Salisbury. Officers have been referred to as at 6.46pm this night following experiences a prepare derailed.
'We're on scene alongside paramedics and the fireplace brigade.'
The Rail Accident Investigation Department tonight stated it had deployed inspectors to the positioning of a collision for a preliminary examination of the scene.
An Workplace of Rail and Street spokesperson added: 'We're supporting Community Rail and the prepare operators, plus RAIB and the British Transport Police, with respect to the collision between two trains close to Salisbury Tunnel Junction and liaising with emergency providers responding to the incident.'