Complex recovery continuing two weeks after derailment in Cumbria

Engineers are continuing a complex operation to repair the railway after a Northern train derailed in Grange-over-Sands on Friday 22 March 2024.

The derailment involved a Northern train coming off the tracks at around 6am. A void in the ground was found around 150m away from the train.

A specialist crane was brought in to rerail and remove the train from the site of the derailment.

With the train safely removed, engineers can now start to repair the railway.

Expert engineers are using a variety of specialist methods to carry out a thorough investigation into the ground conditions at the site. This includes:

• Boreholes

• Probe testing

• Radar and electrical testing

• Investigating the type of earth and rock the embankment is made of.

Results of the testing will inform engineers of the best way to repair the void at this location. The team are carrying out additional investigations so they can be certain about the condition of the embankment and track in the area.

Aside from the repairs needed to the embankment and ground, new ballast (railway stones) and track is required before trains can operate again between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness.

Engineers expect the work to be completed by the end of April.

Phil James, North West route director, said:

“I’m grateful to the people of Cumbria for their patience whilst we carry out this complex investigation and recovery of the railway in Grange-over-Sands following the recent derailment of a Northern train.

“Our engineers are working tirelessly to repair and reopen the railway.”

Passengers are advised to visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for travel advice.

For the latest updates on the incident, passengers can follow the Network Rail Lancashire and Cumbria X account (formerly Twitter) on @NetworkRailLC.

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