Rail journeys between two major cities have been temporarily scrapped as work to recover a derailed freight train is still expected to last for weeks.
The derailment on October 21 saw five wagons, each carrying 80 tonnes of powdered cement, break free from the track as the train crossed a bridge over the River Petteril in Carlisle - with some even crashing into the waterway below.
It means all Northern Rail trains from Newcastle to Carlisle have been cancelled, with bus replacement services running from Haltwhistle instead, while plans to bring in a crane to move the wagons are taking time due to the area’s unstable ground conditions.
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“I’d like to once again thank people for their patience while we continue our difficult work to recover the derailed freight wagons,” said Phil James, Network Rail ’s North West route director.
“We’re working with multiple agencies to get to a point where the recovery operation can end and our major railway repairs can begin. There is still a lot of work to be done until we get to that point though, so I’d encourage passengers to check National Rail Enquiries if they are planning to make any journeys through the area over the next several weeks.”
More than 110 tonnes of cement have so far been removed from the wagons, with none being spilled into the river during the process so far, while the remaining contents are due to be emptied by the beginning of next week.
Initial findings from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found a faulty train wheel was the “most likely cause” for the derailment. Residents in the surrounding area will receive further information shortly on how the recovery and repair works could impact their lives.
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