Express & Star

Engineers move derailed Avanti West Coast train as travel delays continue to impact West Midlands commuters

A train which derailed after it struck a landslide at 80mph has been moved from the scene.

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Network Rail has said that engineers 'worked throughout the night' to move an 11-carriage Avanti West Coast train, which came off the rails on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) near Shap, Cumbria. 

Eighty-seven people were on board when the train struck a landslide at around 80mph at around 6.15am on Monday, November 7.

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Network engineers worked overnight to move the train after it derailed
Network engineers worked overnight to move the train after it derailed

Four of the passengers suffered minor injuries, while no one required hospital treatment. 

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Engineers have worked through the night with our contractors to successfully move the train.

“Immediately following this, teams began the complex work to repair the damage to overhead lines, track and signalling, as well as initial works to repair the landslip.

“This is a complex fix, and our teams are working in challenging conditions with a further Met Office yellow weather warning for rain today.

“Our goal is to reopen the line so trains can run as soon as possible tomorrow (Wednesday).

“We appreciate passengers’ patience while we carry out this critical work."

Delays remain in place for Avanti West Coast services travelling to the north of Preston, with the rail operator advising passangers to 'not travel north of Preston' on Monday and Tuesday.
Delays remain in place for Avanti West Coast services travelling to the north of Preston, with the rail operator advising passangers to 'not travel north of Preston' on Monday and Tuesday.

The derailment caused major disruption across Avanti West Coast lines travelling to the north, with the rail operator warning all passengers not to travel to the north of Preston on Monday or Tuesday.

An Avanti spokesperson said: "Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston on Monday 3 or Tuesday 4 November, as recovery work is ongoing to restore the infrastructure between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District after a train derailment on Monday 3 November. 

"Our destinations north of Preston include Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh."

Ticket acceptance has been put into place for a number of alternative routes travelling north, including services between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street.

See a full list of affected stations and their alternative lines below: 

  • Between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER

  • Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail

  • Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry

  • Between Carlisle and Newcastle with Northern

  • Between Preston and York with Northern

  • Between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly with Northern

  • Between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh with TransPennine Express

For more information and to stay up to date with Avanti West Coast delays, visit the rail operator's website.