Major transport incident
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland have many important roads, railways and air routes.
Major accidents don't happen often, but our emergency services and partners plan and prepare for them.
Road Network
Over 250,000 vehicles pass through Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland every day on our major roads. The M1 motorway is one of the busiest roads in our area with over 100,000 vehicles per day.
Other major roads include the M69, A1, A6, A46, A47, A50 and A511.
These roads are important for our local and national economy.
Rail Network
Several busy rail services run from stations across our area including the Midland Main Line, East Midlands Railway and Thameslink Route.
Emergency services work with the rail service providers and other partners to plan and prepare for emergencies.
Air Transport Network
East Midlands Airport serves around 4 million passengers and approximately 50,000 to 60,000 aircraft movements annually. This includes both commercial and non-commercial flights, such as private jets, cargo planes and training flights.
Emergency services work with the airport authorities to plan and prepare for emergencies at the airport. This is a part of long standing and well-established emergency arrangements.
How you could be affected
A major transport incident can cause:
- physical harm
- emotional stress
- loss of life affecting families and communities
- travel disruption and delays
What you should do
Road incident
Breaking down on a major road can be stressful and safety must come first.
- Move to safety – move your vehicle to the side of the road
- Turn on hazard warning lights – warn other drivers. Put out a warning triangle far behind your vehicle
- Get out safely – exit the vehicle from the passenger side
- Don’t try to fix your vehicle – wait for help
- Call for help – contact your breakdown provider or the emergency services. If you don't have a phone, walk to nearest emergency phone
Keep an emergency kit in your car that includes:
- high-visibility jacket
- warning triangle
- first aid kit
- water
- warm blanket and coat
Rail incident
If there is a problem on the train:
- Stay in your seat – follow the instructions from the train staff
- Move to safety – if instructed by the train staff, move carefully within another carriage or outside, away from the tracks. Be aware of other trains and significant drops to the ground where there isn't a platform
- Call for help – speak to train staff or text the British Transport Police on 61016. In an emergency, call 999. If possible, use apps such as Google Maps and What3Words to find your location before calling the emergency services. If it's not an emergency, call the British Transport Police on 0800 405 040
Aircraft incident
If there is an emergency on the plane:
- Read the safety information given by the airline
- Watch the crew's safety presentation
- Follow instructions from the crew in an emergency
Further advice and information
One Network – real-time traffic updates
National Rail – train service information
National Highways - road safety advice