A significant derailment involving a bulk cement train has blocked lines south and east of Carlisle, bringing significant disruption to all traffic between that northwest junction town and destinations east to Newcastle and south to Leeds. The lines blocked or disrupted are primarily the Tyne Valley line, which runs east-west across the north of England, and the Settle and Carlisle line, which is a critical freight route, reliving the West Coast Main Line. Diversions are in operation.

At the same time as the government was derailing in Westminster on Wednesday night, a freight train carrying a bulk load of cement had a more conventional coming-off-the-rails at Petteril Bridge Junction, a location in the south east of Carlisle, blocking critical freight routes to the south and east of the city. Direct passenger services are suspended between Carlisle and Newcastle (on the Tyne Valley Line) and on the Settle and Carlisle Line, which also connects to Leeds. Both lines are important freight routes, with the Settle and Carlisle particularly important as a parallel freight route for the busy West Coast Main Line.

Significant infrastructure damage

Fourteen heavy cement wagons of the standard JPA design, hauled by a class 66 diesel workhorse, came off the rails in the southeast of Carlile late on Wednesday (19 October). The working, according to independent observers, was an evening working from Clitheroe in Lancashire to Carlisle. Local media have a drone shot of the train stranded over the buckled rails of Petteril Bridge Junction. Two of the 100-tonne tank wagons are overturned and in the waters of the River Petteril. The bridge which carries the converging tracks over the river is badly damaged. The location runs through a commercial retail park in the city. No injuries have been reported.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is already investigating this major incident. “We have a team on-site team at Petteril Bridge Junction near Carlisle following a freight train derailment last night”, RAIB told social media channels. “Initial reports are seven wagons have derailed. Inspectors have begun gathering information and evidence.”

Both lines blocked for days

Network Rail has also warned of major disruption between Carlisle and Newcastle. NR is working with multiple agencies to find out how the cement train, with a payload capacity of over one thousand tonnes, came off the track over the River Petteril shortly after 8 pm (2000hrs). “No one was injured in the incident”, says NR. “The railway will be closed for some time in both directions impacting all services between Carlisle, Newcastle and Appleby and Skipton [and on to Leeds].”

“The Rail Accident Investigation Branch will have to examine the scene before any efforts can be made to remove the train and make railway repairs”, said a statement from NR. With significant damage likely to the railway bridge, track and line side equipment, the route is expected to be entirely closed to all trains for several days. “We will work around the clock will all agencies to speedily make our repairs to get the line reopened again for passengers and freight as soon as possible”, said a busy Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director.

The derailment is as significant as the one which blocked approaches to Sheffield Midland station in July 2021.