Inquest Opened Into Man’s Death on Railway Near Sandbach

An inquest has been formally opened into the death of a man who was struck by a train on the Crewe to Manchester rail line earlier this month.

Emergency services were called to the railway near Sandbach station at around 10.20am on January 9 following reports of a person on the tracks. British Transport Police officers attended alongside paramedics, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A coroner’s court heard that the deceased was 49-year-old Craig Hughes, whose body was found on the railway line. The incident led to disruption for rail services operating between Stockport and Crewe on the day.

The inquest into Mr Hughes’ death was opened at Cheshire Coroners Court in Warrington on Wednesday. The court was told that the proceedings were necessary because the death was considered to be from an unnatural cause.

Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish said:

"On the evidence I have heard, I am satisfied that the case of Craig Hughes requires an inquest."

The inquest was opened and then adjourned, with a full hearing scheduled for July 10. A case review hearing has been set to take place on April 28.

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