An early morning train from London is in disarray, looking set to hit the ground, leading to imminent major disruption that will last “for days” on the West Coast Morkline.
At 06:10 GMT the 04:28 Avanti West Coast Service from Glasgow Central to London Euron arrived on the tracks in condition in Cumbria, said the operator and train operator.
Lines north of Preston and south of Carlisle were blocked as a result, leaving passengers to face the side of danger.
The North West Ambulance Service said there were 87 people, including staff, in the Board and four received minor injuries that required hospital treatment.
An Avanti spokesman said: “There may be significant disruption to our network on most days.”
The derailment also hit Transpennine Express services running the West Coast Mainline.
James Burrow, who was on the brutal service, said “There was a flash and a bang,” before the crew informed passengers that the train had quickly cooled down.
He said he was escorted to the train at 08:50 to the nearest shape hotel.
“People were confused but calm,” said Mr. Burrow.
“At first we thought it was a car or something and then the train hit.
“I was taking a picture of a train and someone came up and said ‘I was driving that’.
“You really have the type of a hero, it could be worse.”
After being kept at the hotel, the passengers were transferred to two coaches – one bound for London and the other back to Scotland.
Campbell Watson, from Glasgow, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “I was sleeping and there was a big jolt in the train, a real big screech and then all of a sudden the train came to a stop and the power went out.
“It was a shocking situation.”
Commuters from the south have been warned not to travel north of Preston [Reuters]
The railway network confirmed that the ground had fallen in this area before the train derailed, however they were still trying to find out if that was the cause of the service derailment.
BBC Weather Leave Presenter Helen Willett said it had been a wet weekend in Cumbria.
“In the last three days, 77.4mm of rain has fallen,” he said.
“It’s the wettest time of the year, but that’s more than a third of the expected rainfall for November.”
Chapel Parish council chairman Jean Jackson said “The rain is good” around Cumbria.
Combined with the “standing” slopes following the railway line, it is “not surprising” that there was a place.
Last year there was a delay after heavy rain caused a striplip on the same track.
Network Rail Operations Director Sam MacDougall said Cumbria posed “particular challenges” due to the region’s climate and topography.
Which trains are affected?
The disruption will continue until the end of Monday as the lines remain blocked by the derailed train. This means:
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Avanti West Coast Services traveling south west from Edinburgh or Glasgow Central to London Euston will be canceled
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Avanti trains coming to north London will run to Preston only
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Scotrail and some Avanti trains run south to Carlisle
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Transpernnine services from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Liverpool or Manchester will operate as far as Carlisle
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Services from Liverpool or Manchester will run as far as Preston
Transpernnine has warned that the hourly return bus service between Preston and Carlisle is “proving to be difficult” due to limited coach provision.
Tickets for Monday departures will be accepted on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Avanti and Transpennine tickets are accepted for the following services:
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Between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh via the LNER
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Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central and Scotrail
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Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street by crosscountry
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Between carlisle and Newcastle and the North
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Between Preston and York in the North
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Between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly with the North and Transpennine Express
On the West Coast Mordign itself, trains from the south would no longer pass beyond Preston, while services from the north would be terminated at Carlisle.
‘Full Relief’
Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron, said he had spoken to Network Rail about the damage to the line and what the next steps would be.
He said he will be raising this issue in the House of Commons with the Transport Secretary and discussing long-term infrastructure on the West Coast Mainline.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” about the attack and was “absolutely appalled” by the number of casualties.
He said he had contacted the UK Government to make sure anyone affected was “properly supported”.
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