Cumbria train derailment: four injured as Glasgow–London service hits landslip

Shiva K Dhakal
National Press Corporation(NPC)
United Kingdom —A train travelling from Glasgow to London has derailed near Shap in Cumbria, after reportedly striking a landslide early on Saturday morning.

The 04:28 Avanti West Coast service came off the tracks at around 06:10 GMT. Passengers told the BBC they heard “a thud” before the train “rocked, tilted and screeched to a halt.”

There were 86 passengers and rail staff on board; four people sustained minor injuries, according to Avanti.

Photos from the scene show the front carriage badly damaged and partly covered in mud. A video captured by a passenger shows crew members informing travellers about the derailment.

Network Rail has confirmed there was a landslip in the area but said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Early indications suggest the train was travelling at around 80mph when it struck the landslide, Network Rail’s operations director said, adding that the train “stopped very quickly.”

Avanti West Coast has warned of severe disruption north of Preston and urged customers not to travel in that direction today.

The company said services could remain affected “for a number of days” while crews assess damage to the track and carriages.