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A train traveling from Glasgow to London experienced a derailment early in the morning, causing significant disruption and impacting the West Coast Mainline. The incident occurred at 06:10 GMT when the 04:28 Avanti West Coast service derailed at Shap in Cumbria. As a result, lines north of Preston and south of Carlisle were blocked, leaving passengers stranded on both sides of the crash. Fortunately, the North West Ambulance Service reported that out of the 87 people on board, only four sustained minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment.
Avanti stated that the disruption to their network is expected to last for several days, affecting not only their services but also TransPennine Express services that use the West Coast Mainline. Passenger James Burrow, who was on the derailed train, recounted the experience of hearing a loud noise before being informed of the derailment. After being taken off the train, passengers were relocated to the Shap Wells Hotel before being transferred to coaches heading towards London and Scotland. Campbell Watson, another passenger, described the shock of feeling a jolt and experiencing a sudden stop and power outage on the train.
It was confirmed by Network Rail that a landslip occurred in the area prior to the derailment, although the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. Weather presenter Helen Willetts highlighted the recent heavy rainfall in Cumbria, emphasizing the challenging conditions posed by the weather and the region’s topography. Last year, a similar landslip caused delays on the same stretch of track. Director of operations at Network Rail, Sam MacDougall, pointed out the specific challenges presented by Cumbria’s weather and landscape.
The disruption is expected to continue until at least the end of Monday, impacting various train services on the West Coast Mainline. Passengers have been advised of cancellations and route changes, with several operators accommodating affected travelers with alternative services and routes. Political figures like Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed concern over the incident, with Swinney praising the lack of injuries as an “absolute relief” and ensuring those impacted receive proper support
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