Two die at railway blackspot

Two teenagers died after being hit by a passenger train at a notorious blackspot for rail vandals in Leeds. One was killed instantly and the other was declared dead at hospital soon after they were struck by the Middlesbrough-to-Manchester airport train travelling at around 70mph on Sunday night.

The youths, 15 and 17, were found near the main trans-Pennine line. A Railtrack spokeswoman said yesterday that a third youth who was present ran away but was later traced and was being questioned by police. She said the accident scene, near a road bridge over the two rail lines, was known as a blackspot for trespassing and vandalism. Railtrack and British Transport Police launched an immediate inquiry.