Travel disruption as repairs from Carlisle freight train derailing 'could take weeks'
Network Rail’s North West route director provides an update on the damage
Repairs to railway tracks, a railway bridge and signalling equipment could take "weeks rather than days", after a freight train carrying cement derailed in Carlisle.
Engineers from Network Rail have been inspecting the damage following the incident, which happened at around 8pm on 19 October.
Several wagons left the tracks, landing on the embankment beside the River Petteril, with at least one wagon ending up in the river itself.
Nobody was injured, however an investigation is being carried out by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
The line will remain closed in both directions until further notice, causing major disruption to train services between Carlisle and Newcastle, as well as Appleby and Skipton.
Replacement bus services are in place.
Anyone planning a journey in the next few weeks should check www.nationalrail.co.uk ahead of their trip.
Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: "On the rare occasions trains leave tracks like this it can cause extensive damage and unfortunately this incident is no exception.
"I understand this will be extremely frustrating for passengers who rely on this crucial rail link from east to west linking Carlisle and Newcastle, as well as south to Skipton.
"Across the rail industry we’re working hard to keep people on the move through rail replacement buses while we work as fast as we can to restore the railway for passengers and freight.”
Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern Rail, said: "We are working closely with Network Rail to monitor the situation and provide the latest information to our passengers as to how they can still travel across the region.
"Customers should check before they travel and plan for longer journey times.
"We will provide updates on our website and via social media as soon as any new information about the recovery operation becomes known to us."
A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said:
“We have launched an investigation into the freight train derailment which occurred at Petteril Bridge Junction, Carlisle. We currently have a team of five inspectors plus support staff on site. This team is gathering evidence and we will maintain a presence at the site as necessary, over the coming days.
“We are working in conjunction with other agencies to secure the vital evidence needed to help us understand what went wrong. Our inspectors are in the process of reviewing digital material from on-train data recorders, CCTV and infrastructure monitoring systems, as well as collecting physical evidence from the train and track involved.
“In accordance with our normal processes we have started releasing parts of the train. We will continue to release parts of the train and track in stages at the earliest opportunity, consistent with gathering sufficient evidence. A further update giving details of our investigation will be available on our website in the coming days.”
Currently there are no trains running between Carlisle and Haltwhistle and Carlisle and Appleby. No replacement buses are being provided.
Services to Newcastle and also to Leed and Skipton are also being affected.
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