Freight train derails between Newcastle and Carlisle
Passengers are being warned to expect major disruption
A freight train has derailed on the line between Newcastle and Carlisle.
Goods carriages carrying cement came off the tracks just after 8pm yesterday (Wednesday 19 October) near the Petteril Bridge junction, off London Road.
No passengers were on board and no-one was hurt.
Emergency workers were called to deal with the incident and Network Rail staff are on site carrying out investigations.
Inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are looking at the scene before any efforts are made to try and move the train and repair the railway.
Network Rail is expecting the route to be closed to all trains for several days.
All services between Carlisle, Newcastle and Appleby and Skipton are affected.
Phil James, Network Rail's North-West route director, said:
"I’m extremely sorry to passengers who are facing disruption today while we deal with this incident in Carlisle. Thankfully train derailments are rare and our priority now is to protect the safety of people using the railway, those living beside it and the surrounding environment while we carry out the necessary detailed investigation and complex recovery work.
"We will work around the clock will all agencies to do this and then speedily make our repairs to get the line reopened again for passengers and freight as soon as possible. In the meantime, please check National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information as the scale of the damage means it will be some time before we get things back up and running as normal."
Services that run from Carlisle to Whitehaven/Barrow and from Newcastle to Hexham are running as normal.