Passengers have been safely evacuated after a train derailed in Cumbria, England, early Monday morning, authorities confirmed.
The incident involved the 4:28 a.m. Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to London Euston, which came off the tracks near the village of Shap at around 6:10 a.m., prompting the North West Ambulance Service to declare a major incident.
British Transport Police said on X shortly before 9 a.m. that officers “were called at 6.15am today to reports of a train derailment near Shap, Cumbria.
Thankfully, there are no reported casualties and passengers have been safely escorted from the train. Officers remain on scene alongside emergency services responding to the incident.”
According to NWAS, about 85 passengers were on board at the time. “Fortunately, we don’t believe anyone has suffered any significant injuries,” the service said in an update at 9:10 a.m., adding that its hazardous area response team was “triaging and offering welfare to all involved in the incident.”
Avanti West Coast said all lines north of Preston were currently blocked, warning passengers not to travel north of the city and anticipating “significant disruption to our network for a number of days.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that a major incident had been declared but emphasized that “there are no reported injuries.”
She told LBC Radio, “I have been informed of this incident within the last half-an-hour or so. We will work swiftly to make sure that people can get off the train safely. I will be remaining in constant touch with the train operating company.”
NWAS said emergency “resources” had been deployed to the site and that it was “currently assessing the situation.” Other emergency services were also reported to be on the scene assisting with the response.
National Rail warned of “major disruption between Carlisle and Preston [expected] until the end of the day,” saying, “A derailed train between Penrith and Oxenholme means all lines are blocked. Trains running between Carlisle and Preston may be delayed by up to 120 minutes or cancelled.”
Avanti West Coast announced that rail replacement buses were in operation between Carlisle and Preston and that “tickets will be accepted on alternative routes between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER, between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail and between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountryUK.”
Reacting to the incident, Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said, “I’m deeply concerned to hear the news coming out of Shap this morning. My thoughts are with everyone on board the train and the emergency service workers who are now on the scene.”
Shap, located roughly 10 miles (15km) south of Penrith, sits in the heart of Cumbria, England, and is known for its steep rail gradients along the West Coast Main Line, a major route connecting northern and southern parts of the United Kingdom.
