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Two teenagers ‘imitate Great Train Robbery by trying to rob Royal Mail train on West Coast Main Line in copycat heist 60 years later’
- Police are called to train near Lockerbie in southern Scotland at about 1.40am
- Duo aged 17 and 18 were found and arrested after parcels were ‘interfered with’
Two teenagers allegedly tried to rob a Royal Mail train in the middle of the night after they were said to have tampered with the signalling system and boarded a carriage – almost 60 years after the Great Train Robbery of 1963.
Police were called to the train near Lockerbie in southern Scotland at about 1.40am this morning before finding the duo aged 17 and 18 in a carriage and arresting them.
Detectives said some parcels had been ‘interfered with’ – and both teenagers were charged with malicious mischief, theft and threatening and abusive behaviour.
Officers added that they did not believe anything had been stolen from the train during the incident on the West Coast Main Line, north of the village of Kirtlebridge. The train was travelling from Warrington in Cheshire to Shieldmuir near Glasgow.
It comes almost six decades after Great Train Robbery of August 8, 1963 which saw the stealing of £2.6million from a Royal Mail train in Buckinghamshire.
The incident happened today north of the village of Kirtlebridge (file image), near Lockerbie
A file photo of a Royal Mail train – one of which was involved in today’s incident in Scotland
The haul taken by the 15 men – including the infamous Ronnie Biggs who spent 36 years as a fugitive after escaping from jail – was about £40million in today’s money.
Today’s incident caused major disruption to Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper and TransPennine Express services as passengers attempted to travel this morning.
Damage to the signal box meant all lines were blocked between Lockerbie and Carlisle, with National Rail reporting delays and cancellations until 9.30am.
A British Transport Police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Officers were called to the line in Lockerbie at 1.42am this morning following reports that two young men had gained access to a Royal Mail train, damaging signalling equipment in the process.
‘Officers attended and a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were located in a carriage and arrested. At this stage it’s not believed anything was stolen but a number of parcels in the carriage had been interfered with.
The Great Train Robbery of August 8, 1963 involved a Royal Mail train in Buckinghamshire
Some £2.6million was robbed from a Royal Mail train in Buckinghamshire in the 1963 incident
‘Both young men have been charged with malicious mischief, theft and threatening and abusive behaviour. Enquiries are ongoing.’
And Royal Mail spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We are aware of the incident and are supporting the British Transport Police in their investigation.’
Meanwhile Network Rail confirmed the incident ‘happened at 1.42am this morning on the West Coast Main Line, north of Kirtlebridge, between Lockerbie and Carlisle’.
It also said that British Transport Police were in attendance along with Police Scotland. MailOnline contacted Police Scotland, which confirmed it attended.
British Transport Police urged anyone with information to contact the force by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference ’38 of 01/08/23′.
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