An early morning Avanti West Coast train travelling from Glasgow to London has derailed in Cumbria, causing widespread travel disruption expected to last “a number of days”. The 04:28 service from Glasgow Central left the tracks at Shap at 06:10 GMT, with early reports indicating the train may have struck a landslip. Rail lines north of Preston and south of Carlisle have been blocked, with passengers stranded on both sides of the route as emergency services responded.

The North West Ambulance Service confirmed there were 87 passengers and staff on board and said four people suffered minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment. A spokesperson for Avanti warned: "It is likely there will be significant disruption to our network for a number of days." Services run by TransPennine Express, which share the West Coast Mainline, have also been affected, with replacement buses struggling to meet demand. Passengers were held at a nearby hotel before being transferred onto coaches heading south to London or back towards Scotland.

Several passengers described the moment the train left the tracks. James Burrow, who was on board, recalled "there was a flash and a bang," before staff informed travellers of the derailment. He said: "People were confused but calm," adding that after speaking with the train driver, "He's kind of a hero really, it could have been a lot worse." Another passenger, Campbell Watson from Glasgow, told BBC Radio Cumbria: "I was sleeping and there was a big jolt on the train, a real big screech and then all of a sudden the train came to a stop and the power went off. It was a very shocking experience."

Network Rail said a landslip occurred in the area before the derailment and confirmed it is investigating whether the incident caused the train to come off the tracks. Heavy rainfall has hit Cumbria in recent days, with BBC Weather presenter Helen Willetts stating: "In the last three days, 77.4mm of rain has fallen," adding, "It's a wet time of year, but that's over a third of the expected rainfall for November." Shap Parish Council chairman Jean Jackson noted "the rain is phenomenal" and said that given the "steep slopes" near the railway, she was "not surprised" a landslip had happened. Network Rail’s director of operations Sam MacDougall said the region faces “specific challenges” due to its terrain and climate.

Disruption on the West Coast Mainline is expected until at least the end of Monday. Avanti West Coast services between Scotland and London are cancelled or terminating early, with trains from London running only as far as Preston. Services between Manchester or Liverpool and Scotland are similarly curtailed, and TransPennine Express has warned that rail replacement buses between Preston and Carlisle are “proving difficult” to source. Tickets for Monday will be accepted for travel on Tuesday.

Political leaders have voiced concern, with Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron saying he has discussed the incident with Network Rail and intends to raise the matter in Parliament. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said he was "very concerned" by the derailment and described it as an "absolute relief" that there were no serious injuries. He added he was in contact with the UK government to ensure those affected are "properly supported."

Images: Avanti West Coast & Network Rail