Rail passengers across Britain are facing widespread travel disruption after an early morning Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to London derailed near Shap, Cumbria, on Monday.
The incident occurred at approximately 06:10 GMT, when the 04:28 Glasgow Central–London Euston train came off the tracks. According to Avanti West Coast, the derailment appears to have been caused by a landslip following heavy rainfall in the region.
Lines Blocked and Passengers Stranded
All lines between Preston and Carlisle on the West Coast Mainline are currently blocked, leaving passengers stranded on either side of the incident. Authorities said 87 people, including staff, were on board the derailed service.
The North West Ambulance Service confirmed that four individuals suffered minor injuries, none of which required hospital treatment. Passengers were escorted off the train nearly three hours after the derailment and taken to the Shap Wells Hotel to await onward transport.
“It was a frightening experience, but everyone remained calm,” said passenger James Burrow, who described seeing “a flash and a bang” before the train came to a halt. “The driver deserves credit; it could have been a lot worse.”
Another passenger, Campbell Watson from Glasgow, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “I was sleeping and then felt a huge jolt. There was screeching, and suddenly we stopped. The power went off—it was shocking.”
Cause Under Investigation
Network Rail confirmed that a landslip occurred in the area shortly before the derailment. However, investigators are still determining whether the shifting ground directly caused the train to leave the tracks.
Director of operations Sam MacDougall said Cumbria’s geography presents “specific challenges,” especially during prolonged rainfall. “The combination of steep slopes and saturated ground increases the likelihood of landslips,” he noted.
Meteorologists reported that 77.4mm of rain fell across Cumbria over the last three days—more than a third of the region’s average rainfall for November.
BBC Weather presenter Helen Willetts described the conditions as “exceptionally wet,” while Shap Parish Council chairman Jean Jackson said she was “not surprised” by the landslip given the intensity of rainfall in recent days.
“This is one of the wettest parts of the UK,” Jackson added. “The rain has been phenomenal, and when you combine that with the steep slopes beside the railway, it’s a recipe for problems.”
Major Disruption to Rail Services
The derailment has led to major cancellations across northern England and southern Scotland. Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, and other operators have warned passengers not to travel unless necessary.
Avanti said its northbound services from London will terminate at Preston, while southbound trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow are cancelled until further notice. TransPennine Express services from Liverpool and Manchester are running only as far as Preston, while northbound services from Edinburgh and Glasgow will terminate at Carlisle.
An hourly rail replacement bus between Preston and Carlisle has been introduced, but TransPennine warned that coach shortages were making it “difficult to maintain consistent service.”
To help stranded passengers, Avanti and TransPennine tickets are being accepted on other routes, including:
- LNER services between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh
- ScotRail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central
- CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and Birmingham
- Northern services between Preston, York, Manchester, and Newcastle
Avanti confirmed that the disruption would continue until at least the end of Monday, adding that tickets dated for Monday would remain valid for Tuesday travel.
Government and Local Reactions
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said he had spoken to Network Rail about assessing the damage and restoring the line. “This is a vital transport corridor, and we need a long-term plan to protect it from repeated landslips,” he said.
Farron plans to raise the issue in Parliament with the Transport Secretary, calling for greater investment in rail infrastructure resilience across the north-west.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred. “It’s an absolute relief that everyone is safe,” he said. “We are in contact with the UK government to ensure that those affected receive the support they need.”
A Region Prone to Repeat Incidents
The stretch of railway near Shap has faced similar disruptions in the past. Last year, heavy rain caused a landslip on the same section of track, forcing multiple service cancellations.
Experts have long warned that Britain’s aging railway infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Landslips, flooding, and heat-induced rail buckling have become more frequent in recent years, partly due to climate change.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
