Pier train damaged after striking buffers

The train was damaged at the sea end of the pier

Train passengers had to make a safe and quick exit after a pier service struck the buffers in Essex.

Southend Pier Railway services were halted on Sunday after a train was damaged in an incident at the sea end of the pier.

The service runs for 1.25 miles (2km) along Southend Pier - Britain's longest pleasure pier.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, which owns the pier, said it would look further into the incident and services would continue operate as usual.

Southend has Britain's longest pleasure pier - stretching more than a mile out into the Thames estuary

The pier train travels at 8-10mph and when travelling through the points the speed drops to 5mph

After arriving at Southend Pier from a trip on the Waverley boat on Sunday, one passenger said they had to walk as the train was not running.

"It must have been quite an impact," they commented after seeing the damage.

"There were hundreds of passengers getting off the Waverley so I reckon they’ll have had to walk - as we are doing."

Matt Dent, council cabinet member for culture, tourism and business, said glass had to be removed from the door panel to allow pier staff access to the train "to ensure a safe and quick exit for all".

"We thank passengers for their patience and will be looking further into what happened in due course," Dent said.

"We are continuing to operate a normal train service on the pier."