A MAJOR rail route in the North East has reopened nearly 24 hours after a lorry struck the east coast mainline in East Lothian on Thursday.
All trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle were stopped after a lorry left the road and crashed into a wall before landing on the railway at Haddington Road in Wallyford at around 1.30pm.
A crane was brought in to remove the lorry from the tracks and crews worked through the night to restore services, but Network Rail announced the track remained closed this morning.
Read more: Met Office weather warning: Thunderstorms across the North East
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) warned passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Newcastle not to travel while repairs were carried out.
Network Rail said on Friday morning they were making “good progress” on repairs after the lorry strike destroyed a signalling cabinet.
The line was reopened after 11am.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed is now re-open following the removal of a heavy goods vehicle from the track near to Wallyford roundabout in Musselburgh.
"Specialist engineers have completed repairs to the overhead line equipment, boundary wall and retaining walls while replacing two rails following yesterday’s incident. We’re continuing to work closely with train operators and advise passengers to check their journey before travelling.”
Road Policing Officers are appealing for information after the serious road crash in Haddington Road, Wallyford.
The Lothians and Scottish Borders Police spokesperson said: "Around 1.30pm on Thursday, a lorry which was being driven on Haddington Road, Wallyford, left the roadway, collided with a wall and thereafter went down an embankment coming to rest on the East Coast Main railway line.
"Emergency services attended and the 41-year-old male lorry driver was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for the treatment of non life-threatening injuries.
"Extensive enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with information to contact police."
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here