Staffordshire rail services on historic line disrupted after non-passenger train derails
A train carrying no passengers derailed shortly after leaving Staffordshire railway station this morning - with disruption expected to services until Wednesday (April 22).
Services operating on a historic Staffordshire railway line have been disrupted after a non-passenger train derailed this morning (April 18).
A train carrying no passengers derailed shortly after leaving Cheddleton Station at around 9:40am, according to Churnet Valley Railway officials.
No one was injured in the incident, and emergency response teams were quickly sent to the scene.
Rail safety authorities are now working to investigate what happened, while recovery crews begin the process of safely rerailing and removing the affected train.
Services on the line have been suspended for the weekend, with normal operations expected to resume next week (April 22), depending on safety checks.
A spokesperson for Churnet Valley Railway said: “ At approximately 09:40 this morning, a non-passenger-carrying train movement consisting of empty coaching stock departing Cheddleton Station derailed.No injuries were reported or sustained as a result of the incident.
“We are working closely with the relevant authorities, including the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), and are fully cooperating with them. A response team from CVR was immediately dispatched and recovery operations are currently underway to safely rerail and remove the affected locomotive and coach.
“The railway has proudly operated heritage steam and diesel services since 1996, and this is the first incident of this nature in our history. We are committed to understanding exactly what has occurred and will continue to support all investigative efforts.
“While the locomotive involved is new to our fleet, it has undergone extensive testing prior to entering service, and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause at this stage.
“As a result of the derailment, services will remain suspended through Saturday and into Sunday. Customers with existing bookings will be contacted directly by our customer service team to arrange alternative travel dates or provide refunds where preferred.
“We currently expect to resume normal services on Wednesday 22 April, subject to the completion of recovery work and safety checks. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Investigating authories have been contacted for comment.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.