WCML Derailment in Cumbria - 29th May 2024

[GordonT]

Disruption currently between Oxenholme and Carlisle due to a derailed freight train. Anyone know which is the train which has become derailed?
Information originally noted from https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/oxenholme-20240529/

Avanti West Coast between Glasgow Central / Edinburgh and London Euston
TransPennine Express between Edinburgh / Carlisle and Manchester Airport: and between Glasgow Central and Preston / Liverpool Lime Street
Description
A derailed freight train between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District means some lines are blocked.

 

[Darandio]

A quick glance suggests it could be at Hardendale Quarry with the line blocked southbound from Carlisle. I'm sure someone will be along with something more concrete shortly.

 

[father_jack]

6V71 16:46 Hardendale Quarry to Margam T.C. has had a shunting issue and put wagons through the catch points near the main lines.

 

[800001]

Down line is passable, but up is blocked due to the proximity of the wagons to the main line.

 

[merry]

Down traffic apears to be on the move again (looking at RTT & Traksy)

 

[glasgowniteowl]

Avanti have issued do not travel advice north of preston

 

[merry]

Down traffic apears to be on the move again (looking at RTT & Traksy)

 

[Darandio]

Down traffic apears to be on the move again (looking at RTT & Traksy)

Not sure what you're seeing? Line still appears blocked. What's moved south?

 

[800001]

Not sure what you're seeing? Line still appears blocked. What's moved south?

Nothing. The down is the northbound which is passable and trains are currently using that line.

 

[Darandio]

Nothing. The down is the northbound which is passable and trains are currently using that line.

Indeed, read it wrong. Down traffic had been moving for quite a while which got me confused.

 

[AndrewE]

Avanti have issued do not travel advice north of preston

Down traffic apears to be on the move again (looking at RTT & Traksy)

but that won''t stop them throwing the towel in (again)

 

[AMD]

The Carlisle thunderbird loco is currently en route (0Z57) to test the clearance between the up line and derailed wagons

 

[JamieL]

Avanti have issued do not travel advice north of preston

That's a shock.

 

[800001]

That's a shock.

No point sending trains north, when nothing has headed south for many hours.

 

[AMD]

And very little will get south until the wagons are moved, the clearance isn't enough with the loco - single line working is to be implemented.

 

[peteb]

Is the Cumbrian coast route still closed? Is it possible to drag Avanti trains via the S&C?

 

[Rover77]

Is the Cumbrian coast route still closed? Is it possible to drag Avanti trains via the S&C?

Route knowledge would prevent this

 

[800001]

Is the Cumbrian coast route still closed? Is it possible to drag Avanti trains via the S&C?

I very much doubt any Avanti stock has been down the Cumbrian coast? Happy to be proved wrong

 

[Boodiggy]

Route knowledge would prevent this

And what would drag them.
Only two thunderbirds now and one of them was failed today…
Glasgow drivers no longer sign Voyagers

 

[InkyScrolls]

Is the Cumbrian coast route still closed?

No, it's open, but Avanti stock is not route cleared.

Is it possible to drag Avanti trains via the S&C?

In theory yes, in practice no, for various reasons.

 

[AndyPJG]

Photo on BBC News Cumbria report

Freight train derailment causes major delays
A freight train has derailed in Cumbria causing major delays on the rail network.
The train derailed between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District just before 17:00 BST, blocking the line.
Avanti West Coast services between Preston and Glasgow/Edinburgh have been cancelled for the remainder of Wednesday.
It has advised passengers not to travel north of Preston.
Avanti said the line was blocked south of Carlisle, and it had brought in rail replacement coaches.
TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport and Carlisle/Edinburgh and between Liverpool Lime Street/Preston and Glasgow Central have also been affected.
TransPennine said response staff are being sent to the scene.......

 

[AndrewE]

The breakdown gangs I saw in action about 20 years ago would have had those 3 undamaged wagons back on the line in not much more than a couple of hours... as long as they could get there - but that was back then when we had one railway!

 

[IanXC]

The breakdown gangs I saw in action about 20 years ago would have had those 3 undamaged wagons back on the line in not much more than a couple of hours... as long as they could get there - but that was back then when we had one railway!

Rerailing teams have had the same arrangements since privatisation, so the teams you saw 20 years ago are working on exactly the same arrangements as the the team present on site at this derailment today.

 

[edwin_m]

With there being fewer derailments these days, the teams get less practice in re-railing.

Perhaps someone should look at the design of these trap points to make sure they throw well clear of the main line, as we have had several incidents where they haven't. If something like this happened with a passenger train closely approaching at full speed, then it could be a catastrophic event.

 

[syorksdeano]

Landslip reported on the line between Newcastle and Carlisle now

 

[RGM654]

With there being fewer derailments these days, the teams get less practice in re-railing.

Perhaps someone should look at the design of these trap points to make sure they throw well clear of the main line, as we have had several incidents where they haven't. If something like this happened with a passenger train closely approaching at full speed, then it could be a catastrophic event.

That was also my thought. I understand the purpose of trap points to be to prevent an unauthorised vehicle movement from fouling a running line; so the one in question seems not fit for purpose.

 

[syorksdeano]

Has the WCML had another derailment in the same area, or is the current breaking news on Sky News the one from yesterday, and sky have finally realised the world doesn't revolve around the general election

 

[800001]

Has the WCML had another derailment in the same area, or is the current breaking news on Sky News the one from yesterday, and sky have finally realised the world doesn't revolve around the general election

Same as yesterday.

 

[syorksdeano]

Same as yesterday.

Thought so.

So much for Sky News been the first for breaking news...

 

[wilbers]

I watched yesterdays railnatter on youtube. Now the "freight train has done a whoopsie" and someone being on the Settle-Carlisle line said near the beginning makes sense.