Travel warning for Lancs train customers after Cumbria derailment | Lancs Live

Passengers on the Avanti West Coast train service have been advised to avoid traveling north of Preston until later this week following a derailment caused by a landslide. The incident occurred on Monday morning near the village of Shap in Cumbria when the 04:28 service from Glasgow Central to London Euston came off the tracks. The train, which had 87 people on board including 10 staff members, struck a landslide at an estimated speed of 80mph, resulting in the front coach derailing. Four passengers sustained minor injuries, but thankfully no one needed hospital treatment. One passenger described the moment of derailment as terrifying, noting a "very loud bang" followed by a smell of smoke, which initially sparked fear of a terrorist attack. Emergency services and Network Rail teams responded promptly despite challenging weather and terrain conditions. By mid-morning, all passengers were safely evacuated to a nearby reception centre and then transported onward by replacement road services. Avanti West Coast has announced that train services will not run north of Preston until at least Wednesday, as recovery efforts continue between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District. This suspension affects destinations including Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh. Customers holding tickets dated for Monday or Tuesday will be able to use them without extra charge from Wednesday to Friday, and alternative routes with other train operators will also accept these tickets. Network Rail’s operations director, Sam MacDougall, explained that the train collided with a landslide while traveling at around 80 miles an hour before coming to an abrupt halt. He praised the emergency response teams for their efforts in difficult conditions and confirmed that the focus is now on investigating the cause and restoring the railway infrastructure as swiftly as possible. The North West Ambulance Service confirmed they have downgraded the event from a major incident status after assessing all 87 passengers, with only minor injuries reported. Avanti West Coast’s managing director, Andy Mellors, expressed gratitude towards the train staff, emergency services, Network Rail, and a local hotel that provided support to those affected. He reassured customers that ongoing support will be provided to anyone impacted by the accident. The disruption is expected to cause significant delays and inconvenience for travelers across the affected northern routes, with recovery and repair work likely to continue for several days. Customers are encouraged to monitor updates from Avanti West Coast for the latest information regarding service restorations and alternative travel options.