Rail passengers are enduring their second day of significant disruption following the derailment of a train traveling from Glasgow to London, reportedly caused by a landslip.
The Avanti West Coast service that departed at 04:28 derailed on Monday morning while navigating the West Coast mainline in Shap, Cumbria, after traveling at a speed of 80 mph.
Among the 87 individuals aboard, including crew members, four sustained minor injuries, although none required hospitalization, as confirmed by the North West Ambulance Service.
Network Rail announced that the train has been cleared from the site and overhead cable repairs have been completed, yet delays are anticipated to persist on the segment of the line between Preston and Carlisle.
Avanti West Coast is advising passengers to avoid traveling beyond Preston and has stated that tickets can be utilized for travel from Wednesday to Friday instead.
The derailment has also impacted TransPennine Express services that operate along the West Coast Mainline.
In place of train services, bus replacements are available for both TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast routes between Preston and Carlisle. Additionally, tickets are accepted on selected alternative routes offered by other train operators.
Network Rail reported that the first carriage of the 11-car train derailed amid severe weather conditions and darkness.
Operations director Sam MacDougall indicated that preliminary assessments suggest the train encountered a landslide.
He remarked, “We estimate the train was traveling at approximately 80 mph (129 km/h) upon impact and came to a rapid stop shortly thereafter.”
The Met Office has forecasted further heavy rain for the Cumbria region.
Avanti West Coast services connecting Glasgow Central to Birmingham New Street, Crewe, Wolverhampton, and London Euston, as well as routes from Edinburgh to London Euston, are experiencing disruptions due to the track closure.
Caledonian Sleeper trains have also been affected, with cancellations for services connecting Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London, while trains from Aberdeen, Fort William, and Inverness to London have been rerouted.
TransPennine Express connections between Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Manchester Airport, and Liverpool Lime Street are also disrupted.
Network Rail has outlined the following alterations to services for both Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express routes:
Further ticketing and travel guidance can be accessed on the Network Rail website.
Network Rail, responsible for track maintenance, has stated that the exact cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
The organization mentioned that teams have been diligently working around the clock in difficult conditions to restore service.
In a post on X, they reported that the train was removed from the tracks overnight and that repair efforts were ongoing.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, noted that this incident is not unprecedented in his constituency.
Last year, significant delays arose due to a landslip in the same area.
Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, he expressed his intent not to overlook the issue.
“We’ve experienced too many such occurrences recently, with two derailments in my constituency in the past 18 months… I am understandably concerned for our communities and all rail users,” he stated.
Farron plans to address the issue in the House of Commons with the transport secretary and discuss the long-term infrastructure improvements needed for the West Coast Mainline.
To enhance the resilience of the West Coast Main Line, Network Rail stated it is employing track sensors, CCTV, and a system designed to detect ground movement changes.
They announced a £30 million investment in earthwork projects across Lancashire and Cumbria over the next four years to stabilize embankments, track beds, and cuttings, alongside a £323 million modernization scheme aimed at future-proofing the line.
The Department for Transport revealed it has allocated £44 billion to Network Rail for the maintenance and operation of railways throughout England and Wales.
