Four yobs brought a packed train to a halt in Huddersfield.
They pulled the emergency stop cord and ran from the train, after railway staff threatened to call police to deal with them.
Now British Transport Police officers have released CCTV images of four people they want to trace after a train was forced to make an emergency stop in March.
The incident happened at 11pm on Thursday, March 12, on board the 10.23pm Manchester Airport to York train, as it approached Huddersfield station.
Pc Lakhveer Singh said: “Four teenage boys boarded the train at Stalybridge and sat in the front carriage. During the journey, the train guard approached the group and asked to see their tickets. They said they did not have any and then began abusing the guard.
“The guard informed them that he would call the police to meet the train at the next stop – Huddersfield – in order to deal with them.
“While the guard walked to the rear of the train to make the call, one of the passenger alarms was activated in the front carriage and the train made an emergency stop. The group were seen running off down the line, after using the emergency door release to force their way from the carriage.”
BTP officers have been pursuing several lines of enquiry, and are now appealing for the public’s help identifying four people they want to speak to.
PC Singh said: “This was a reckless act that not only endangered the safety of passengers but also caused delays to services.
“Emergency alarms and door releases are there for genuine emergencies and we take their misuse extremely seriously.
“Trespassing on the rail line is incredibly dangerous and could have resulted in a death or serious injury.
“Who are the four young men in the pictures? I would like to speak to them as soon as possible, as I believe they have important information that will assist this investigation. If you know them, or witnessed the incident and have not yet come forward, please get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference P/B6 of 24/04/2015. Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.
