An investigation has been launched following the derailment of a high-speed train at the Ramsgate railway maintenance depot in Kent on Thursday night.
The incident, which occurred at low speed while the train was in the sidings, has raised concerns over rail safety, although no injuries were reported.
According to Network Rail, the train was empty and not carrying any passengers at the time of the derailment. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
However, local residents were left shaken, with one describing how the train came perilously close to a family’s garden fence, coming within “inches” of the property.
A spokesperson for Network Rail confirmed that the incident occurred in the sidings at Ramsgate depot, where trains are stored or undergo maintenance.
“An incident occurred last night in which an empty train, in the sidings at Ramsgate depot, derailed at low speed,” the spokesperson said.
“Services are running normally through the area this morning, at a reduced speed. There was some disruption to our services, and if any of our customers were delayed, they can claim delay repay.”
In response to the incident, Southeastern, the rail operator, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that services between Ramsgate and Minster were temporarily suspended for safety inspections.
The company informed passengers at 19:25 GMT that the halt in services was due to the need for an inspection of the tracks. About ten minutes later, Southeastern confirmed that the inspection had been completed, and trains were allowed to resume service.
However, further safety concerns were flagged at 20:03 GMT, prompting another suspension of trains between Ramsgate and Minster. The services resumed at 20:16 but operated at a reduced speed, causing delays that continued until 00:57 on Friday morning.
The cause of the derailment remains unclear, and Southeastern was contacted for further comments on the issue.
It is also uncertain whether the safety inspections carried out after the derailment were directly linked to the incident, though the operator’s swift response suggests that the event raised immediate safety concerns.
While no passengers were on board the train at the time of the derailment, the incident has sparked questions about the safety protocols in place at the Ramsgate depot.
Local residents, who have witnessed the train’s close proximity to their homes, have expressed concern over the potential for more serious incidents in the future.
The investigation, led by Network Rail, will seek to determine the cause of the derailment and whether any mechanical failures, track issues, or human error played a role in the event.
The outcome of the inquiry is expected to provide clarity on the incident and inform future measures to prevent similar occurrences.
Meanwhile, Southeastern has apologized for the disruption to passengers and assured the public that normal service has resumed, albeit at a reduced speed through the affected area.
Rail safety remains a critical issue, and incidents such as this one highlight the ongoing need for vigilance and thorough inspections to ensure the safety of both passengers and rail workers.
The outcome of the investigation will be closely monitored by both local authorities and the broader rail industry.
