Derailed train to cause two weeks of delays

A train derailed on its way to Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria

Passengers are facing two weeks of delays after a train derailed.

A Northern train travelling towards Barrow, in Cumbria, came off the tracks at 06:00 GMT on 22 March, near Grange-over-Sands.

The derailment led to four passengers and four members of staff being evacuated from the train.

Network Rail said the route would be closed for about two weeks while an investigation, train recovery and repair work were carried out.

They added that a void in the ground had opened up about 150m away from the derailed train.

Investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have attended the scene to determine the cause of the train derailment and what caused the void.

The train will be lifted back on to the tracks by a crane

Chris Pye, Network Rail’s North West route infrastructure director, said: "On the rare occasions trains leave tracks like this it can cause extensive damage and unfortunately this incident is no exception.

"The additional problem with the ground conditions means this is an especially complicated recovery process."

After the RAIB completes their investigation, Network Rail will begin the recovery process.

This will involve using a crane to re-rail and remove the train, installing a new ballast, laying new track, and carrying out repairs to the ground.

A void was found in the ground 150m away from the train

Speaking to BBC Cumbria, Tony Miles, from Modern Railways Magazine, said: "It is probably quite fortunate that the train stayed upright and it wasn't a more serious derailment than what already happened."

He added: "We have an ageing infrastructure around the country.

"The weather conditions are exposing more bits of route to things like landslips - like we have seen on embankments where the tracks have been there for well over 100 years."

From 25 March, train services will run between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness on the Cumbrian coast line.

Rail replacement bus services will run between Barrow and Lancaster while the train repair work is carried out

The buses will call at Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose and Barrow -In-Furness.