Off track!
(1st March 1997)
A FULL scale investigation is under way after a freight train was derailed south of
Carnforth. Services along the West Coast Mainline were seriously disrupted over the
weekend after three engines came off the tracks close to Crag Bank. More than 250 yards of
track were severely damaged by the derailment and rail chiefs have called for a full
enquiry.
Four locomotive engines coupled together were being towed from Carlisle to Wigan when
they fell off the tracks and blocked the line. This left only one route open and caused
chaos to services, with some trains being diverted along the Settle to Carlisle line.
Railtrack spokesman, Helen O'Riordan, said: "Lots of workmen worked throughout the
weekend to repair the track, which was very badly damaged. Some services were diverted and
a speed restriction was put in force but everyone worked tremendously hard from Saturday
until early Monday morning and services were back to normal by Monday afternoon."
Experts still have to assess the exact cause of the derailment but vandalism has not
been ruled out as a possible cause.
John Moorhouse of the Rail Users Group said he was uncertain of the exact details but
would be discussing the incident at a meeting with Railtrack.
He said: "It is certainly strange for the track to be as badly damaged as this and
it's always regrettable when services are disrupted. I hope the damage is not indicative
of the state of the line and I'll be bringing the matter up at my meeting with
Railtrack."
Lancaster Citizen, 6 th March 1997
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