A TRAIN crashed through a steel barrier and ploughed across 30 yards of wasteland after it ran off the tracks on Teesside yesterday.

The train came to rest only 40ft from and 12ft above busy Station Street, on the edge of Middlesbrough town centre.

The driver of the empty two-carriage Northern Spirit train, which was being taken to a siding at Middlesbrough, escaped unhurt.

Investigators are trying to establish how the train smashed through the steel buffer.

The two carriage Sprinter did not topple over but its running gear was damaged and a length of track torn up.

Last night, a spokesman for British Transport Police said: "It crashed through the buffer - totally destroying the buffer - and continued on for about 30 to 35ft across ballast and rough ground."

However, Northern Spirit said last night the train was travelling at no more than 10mph.

A spokeswoman said: "A train being put into sidings went into the buffer at a low speed, outside Middlesbrough Station. There were no passengers on board and no one was injured, though the driver was taken to hospital for treatment for shock.

"Part of one car of the two-car train was derailed and work is being carried out to get it back on track and moving away. The cause of what happened is being investigated."

It is understood the driver was breathalysed, the test showing negative. No mechanical fault could be found with the train.

It is thought the shuttle had been running on the Bishop Auckland to Saltburn service when it was directed on to a siding.