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A man was left shaken and suffered minor injuries after a train crashed into a platform at Chester railway station.

At around 12.10pm yesterday (Wednesday) the 10.10 Virgin Trains’ service from London failed to stop as it pulled into platform one, hitting the buffers before smashing into a barrier and sending shards of glass flying across the platform.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident, with police cordoning off the platform while paramedics treated the man, who was taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries. He was later allowed home.

No one else was hurt in the incident, which happened as the five-carriage-train was travelling at low speed, and saw two bikes placed next to the barrier seriously damaged.

Concerned commuters watched as officers from British Transport Police (BTP), Cheshire Police and railway station staff surrounded the scene of the crash.

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One woman, who was waiting for her train at the station, watched as rail incident officers dressed in orange jumpsuits examined the mangled bikes on the platform.

“I hope no one was on those bikes. I didn’t see it happen, I hope no one was hurt,” she said.

Police taped-off the platform, while rail incident officers began to clean-up the front of the platform, which was littered with glass thought to have been from a barrier which smashed on impact.

British Transport Police have launched an investigation into what caused the crash, which is being treated as a ‘railway operating incident’.

A spokesperson for Virgin Trains said: “Virgin Trains can confirm that an incident took place earlier today at Chester Station.

“It took place at approximately 12.10 and the train involved was the 10.10 Virgin Trains’ service from London Euston to Chester. No other train was involved.

“The train was due to have turned back round to Euston so the 12.13 service had to be cancelled.

“Customers travelling on that service were then put on Arriva Trains Wales services to Crewe so they did not miss their connections.

“The train is currently in a bay platform so it will not affect any other services.”

A BTP spokesman added: “All coaches of the five-car train have remained upright and one man has been taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service with reported injuries to his back.

“The incident is currently being treated as a railway operating incident.

“The Office of Rail Regulation and Rail Accident Investigation Branch have been informed.”

A spokesperson for Arriva, who manage Chester Railway Station, apologised for any inconvenience the incident may have caused to passengers and said it would take some time to move the train from the rails.

Chester MP Stephen Mosley MP said: “I am relieved that no one was seriously injured. This is an excellent train service with an exemplary safety record.

“Virgin Trains have promised to keep me informed of their investigation into the causes of today’s incident and I hope that lessons will be learnt from their findings.

“I will be liaising with the Rail Minister to ensure this happens.”