Railway employee who died after being hit by train named locally as Wigan man

The authorities said the incident happened on the West Coast Mainline close to the village of Ashton shortly before 11am on Wednesday.

Evidence is now being gathered to decide if a full investigation will take place.

Aden, who was in his 50s, was employed by engineering firm AmcoGiffen and was carrying out work for Network Rail when the accident happened.

His family have been informed.

An online message from his family seen by Wigan Today said: "We are, as a family, devastated and in shock."

James Dean, Network Rail's West Coast Mainline South route director, said: "It is with great sadness I can confirm that a railway employee died yesterday after being struck by a train.

"The tragedy took place just before 11am near Roade on a southbound line between Northampton and London Euston.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and loved ones at this time."

The man was struck by a passenger train operated by London Northwestern Railway. The West Coast Mainline was blocked for around an hour.

A British Transport Police spokesman said officers and paramedics attended and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

He went on: "Officers remain at the scene today to establish the full circumstances behind the incident and are working alongside the Government's Office of Rail and Road (ORR)."

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said: "“Yesterday, a team of inspectors attended the scene of a fatal accident involving a track worker at Ashton near Northampton to start gathering evidence. Our evidence gathering is ongoing.”

AmcoGiffen said in a statement it was working with the authorities to "understand the circumstances which led to this tragic event".

It added: "Our immediate thoughts are with the family and friends of our colleague who has lost his life in the conduct of delivering essential rail services."