Train derails after hitting landslide

The two-coach train partially derailed near Nethertown, on the West Cumbria coast line at 6.45am today. Its 100 passengers were mainly Sellafield nuclear plant workers, and no one was injured. The landslide had been caused by the heavy rain overnight.

A recovery train was sent to pick up the stranded passengers but that was unable to reach the first train after it became blocked itself by a second landside on the line. Instead the passengers walked to nearby Nethertown station, before being taken to a reception centre at Sellafield.

Northern Rail is now running a replacement bus service between Whitehaven and Sellafield stations.