An Avanti West Coast train derailed near Shap in Cumbria, severely disrupting mainline rail services in the area. Emergency crews were forced to close the main line between Penrith and Oxenholme immediately after a train from Glasgow to London Euston derailed.
Train Derailment Causes Suspension of Services and Evacuation of Passengers
at around 06:00 on the morning of 3 November, emergency crews immediately arrived at the scene. The incident was declared a major accident and all passengers were safely evacuated from the train. Avanti West Coast worked in close co-operation with police, fire and ambulance services. After train staff helped passengers to disembark, engineers assessed the damage to the tracks and made the derailed vehicles safe.
With no lines open north of Preston, Avanti West Coast suspended long-distance train services and advised passengers to postpone unnecessary journeys. This is expected to cause major disruption to the network over the next few days. Transport Minister Heidi Alexander praised the rapid response of the emergency services to the scene.
Train Accident Investigation and Alternative Travel Options
Search work has already begun in the area by investigators to uncover the cause of the incident. Investigators are trying to determine the event that caused the derailment; it is important to note that the weather conditions were wet and windy at the time of the incident.
Avanti West Coast has made adjustments to the number of tickets accepted on alternative routes to reduce passenger inconvenience. Passengers will be able to use London North Eastern Railway between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh, ScotRail between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central and CrossCountry between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street. Avanti West Coast emphasised that they will continue to make updates as the recovery continues and that safety is always their primary concern. Engineers are working on initiatives to restart train services on Cumbria’s core railway network.
