Chaos at Melbourne Cup with woman arrested on train track and protesters scaling a crane

UPDATE: Protesters ran on to the straight, hung a banner from a crane and were arrested for parking a car on the train track.

Police detain a woman beside a car parked on the train tracks. Picture: 3AW/Twitter

CHAOS is unfolding at the Melbourne Cup with a woman arrested beside a car blocking the train tracks and protesters scaling a crane to hang a banner over the racetrack.

Police detained the woman at Ascot Vale on the Flemington Racecourse line, beside a car painted with slogans protesting against the situation on Manus Island. A banner was also draped over the tracks.

Racegoers on suspended trains were seen getting out and walking along the tracks to Flemington in their finery, as Metro Train reported delays of up to an hour.

In a separate incident, two female demonstrators from Whistleblowers, Activists & Citizens Alliance climbed a crane to hang an “SOS: Evacuate Manus” banner over the crowd watching the race that stops a nation.

Protesters climb a construction crane and hang an ‘Evacuate Manus’ banner on Melbourne Cup Day. Picture: David Crosling/AAP Image

The two women hung their banner high above the crowd watching the race at Flemington. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Protesters run out onto the straight before the Cup. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A female protester is removed after trying to run down the straight. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The young woman is stopped by police. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Refugee protesters are removed at Flemington Racecourse. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

The protesters made themselves heard on Cup Day. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

WACA photos of the crane stunt, which began at 11.30am, on social media. Spokeswoman Gaye Demanuele said the women are professional climbers, and they plan to come down off the crane before the end of the day. “They are safe up there,” she told news.com.au. They are pro climbers and very experienced, but the men on manus are not safe and in terrible danger and that’s why activists have taken this measure.”

One of the train track protesters, Sonia Arquette, told AAP: “We are really appalled at the situation on Manus Island and we think it’s really inappropriate for people to be celebrating when there are individuals with no water and no security.

“We don’t want to be doing this but we feel we have no choice when there are 600 people starving.”

Manus Island protesters use a car to block rail lines heading to the Melbourne Cup. 2 people have been arrested. #MelbourneCup #7News pic.twitter.com/9EW5QyFm7O

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) November 7, 2017

Racegoers stuck on suspended trains because of Manus Island protest are getting out and walking to Flemington @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/DxNfQwMMFY

— Lynne Scrivens (@lynnescrivens) November 7, 2017

Car on the tracks as part of Manus protest - there's also a banner on a crane at Flemington @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/oBdz4N5KXs

— Estelle Griepink (@EstelleGriepink) November 7, 2017

Melbourne Cup: "SOS: Evacuate Manus Now!" – Protesters scale a crane and unfurl a banner at Flemington. #MelbourneCup #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/I2PCoeC4rR

— 7 News Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) November 7, 2017

2 women have climbed a crane at #melbournecup with a banner that reads 'SOS. Evacuate #Manus now' #justice4refugees https://t.co/ew3Q9EDV8W… pic.twitter.com/DaN5j64ZPI

— WACA (@akaWACA) November 7, 2017

The women climbers view from the crane & message to @TurnbullMalcolm @PeterDutton_MP #SOS #EvacuateManus #Justice4Refugees #MelbouneCup pic.twitter.com/cphbKVCAE9

— WACA (@akaWACA) November 7, 2017

WACA is hoping to create a “Twitter storm” on Melbourne Cup Day to bring attention to the crisis faced by Manus refugees — and it appears to be succeeding.

The activist group posted selfies of the women high above the racetrack with the words: “The amazing women currently on top of a crane at #MelbourneCup @TurnbullMalcolm #EvacuateManus now!”

And the protest is gaining huge traction, with one Twitter user writing: “YASSSS MELBOURNE! YASSSS - BE CAREFUL BUT YASSSSSS.”

Another added: “V smart protest w with the car too.”

A supplied image obtained Tuesday, November 7, 2017 of a car parked on railway tracks to disrupt trains to the Melbourne Cup near Flemington on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Supplid by Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance

The car is towed from the railway tracks after disrupting trains to the Melbourne Cup near Flemington. Picture: AAP Image/Suppliwd by Sonia Arquette

The car that stopped the trains to the race that stops the nation being towed. #9News #MelbourneCup2017 #insiderail pic.twitter.com/NiQGnE52vc

— Brett Mcleod (@Brett_McLeod) November 7, 2017

Others called the women on the crane “absolute legends”, adding, “Go you good things!”

Victoria Police told news.com.au in a statement: “Police can confirm that a female has been arrested at the scene in relation to a car being driven on to the train tracks at Ascot Vale.

“The vehicle will be removed from the line and trains will resume shortly.”

Metro Trains confirmed the vehicle has been removed and trains have resumed.

More to come

Originally published as Chaos at Melbourne Cup with woman arrested on train track and protesters scaling a crane