Passengers have been advised against traveling north of a UK city by train until the middle of the week following a derailment caused by a landslide at a speed of 80mph. The incident occurred near the village of Shap in Cumbria, affecting the Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston, with 87 individuals on board, including 10 staff members, resulting in four minor injuries.
Avanti West Coast has issued a statement instructing customers not to travel beyond Preston as recovery efforts are underway between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District. Destinations such as Blackpool, Lancaster, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh are likely to experience disruptions for several days. Passengers holding Monday or Tuesday tickets can use them between Wednesday and Friday at no additional cost or opt for alternative routes with different operators.
Network Rail reported that the front coach of the 11-carriage train derailed in adverse weather conditions early in the morning. Initial investigations suggest a landslide caused the incident, with the train coming to a sudden halt after the collision. Emergency services swiftly evacuated all passengers to a nearby reception center, and by mid-morning, everyone was safely transported to their destinations by replacement road services.
Following assessments by the North West Ambulance Service, only four individuals sustained minor injuries, with no further hospitalization required. Avanti West Coast’s managing director expressed appreciation for the swift response of onboard staff, emergency services, and Network Rail, ensuring the well-being of all passengers involved in the incident.
