the link to the story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6391633.stm
Passengers have been injured and are trapped after a train derailed and slid down an embankment in Cumbria.
Ambulance crews said 48 people are so far reported injured; three are said to be in a critical condition in hospital.
Nine carriages were left on their side after the crash at Grayrigg near Kendal, with passengers saying some were left “stuck up in the air”.
The Virgin train, the 1715 from London Euston to Glasgow Central due to arrive at 2154 GMT, crashed at 2015 GMT.
Neither Virgin nor Network Rail have yet been able to say what might have caused the crash.
Casualty evacuation
RAF helicopters, police and fire crews have been sent to the scene of collision, between Oxenholme and Tebay in the Lake District.
The train had about 180 people on board, the fire service said.
The Royal Preston Hospital said 12 passengers had so far been airlifted in. It has three casualties described as being in a “critical condition” and one serious.
Three passengers with leg and arm injuries have been taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Cumbria Ambulance Service said six to eight people were feared trapped in one of the carriages of the train.
All but one of the train’s carriages are said to have totally come off the tracks, a spokeswoman said.
Passengers coming off the train are being assessed on the scene and any minor injuries would be treated there if possible, she added.
Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss rescue centre said his crews were searching the carriages “systematically and are finding people injured in all sorts of places”.
“What the helicopters are being used for at the moment will be casualty evacuation,” he said.
“Three big hospitals are already on major standby and at least one other is ready to receive as well.”
One of the passengers, BBC executive Caroline Thomson, said the train “did a sort of bump – and I was thinking don’t worry this fine – but then the swaying became very dramatic.
“It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way. This a very scary experience.”
The Pendolino tilting trains have been introduced by Virgin over the last three years and have a top speed of 125 mph.
Network Rail said the line speed for the area where the crash took place was about 95 mph.
In a statement on its website, Virgin Trains confirmed a “serious incident” had taken place.
“Virgin Trains staff are currently working with the emergency services to ensure that those involved in this incident are given every assistance,” it said.
Services between Preston and Carlisle have been suspended until further notice and alternative arrangements for customers, using road vehicles, are being made.
All Scotrail sleeper services to London have also been cancelled, with passengers being transferred to coach services.
Another passenger on the train, Ruth Colton, said: “I was just reading a book and it started to get really bumpy like we were being battered by heavy winds or something and then suddenly the carriage flipped over.
“We all had to climb out the top of one of ours… There’s some carriages stuck up in the air and some are just lying on their side”.
An emergency services number for friends and relatives is also to be issued shortly by Virgin Trains.
shocking! terrible news, but at the very least there have been no fatalities. the train seems to have held up pretty well; the pictures show lights are still on in the upturned carriage!
it must have been simply terrifying:(
Sam
By: lukeylad - 27th February 2007 at 21:34
Well done to the brave brave driver of that train staying at the controls holding the brakes on for half a mile saving allot of lives.
By: Spitfire Pilot - 27th February 2007 at 12:42
Oh my goodness 🙁 🙁 🙁 That is terrible.
By: Comet - 26th February 2007 at 10:36
i agree there…. it looks like a strong bit of kit!!
RicKT
I read that Pendos are three times stronger than the safety standards specify. All trains should be built to this strength if it can save more lives.
By: Arm Waver - 26th February 2007 at 10:17
Indeed a horrific incident but due to the safety technology of today the number of fatalities and serious injury are low.
Rail crashes like this are a rare thing compared to other forms of transport.
From the eyewitness statements I got the impression that the train was derailed prior to stiking that point that is now under one of those little tent things. If this is the case then it would appear that this point was the final element to the sequence. Pure speculation on my half I admit. I’m no rail expert.
Regardless of my thoughts and opinions, my prayers are with the family of the woman who lost her life and those who have friends and family in hospital.
By: Rickt - 26th February 2007 at 00:22
Those Pendos are certainly well built, looking at some of the pictures there appeared to be very little structural damage to the carriages and that would have prevented this being a much worse incident.
My sympathy and condolences to those involved and their families.
i agree there…. it looks like a strong bit of kit!!
RicKT
By: Comet - 24th February 2007 at 13:43
Terrible news. It said something about it probably being caused by the points. When I heard about the accident I thought about the one at Potters Bar, and that was caused by the points as well.
Those Pendos are certainly well built, looking at some of the pictures there appeared to be very little structural damage to the carriages and that would have prevented this being a much worse incident.
My sympathy and condolences to those involved and their families.
By: Clave - 24th February 2007 at 10:41
Very sad 🙁
By: duxfordhawk - 24th February 2007 at 08:50
My sympathies go to the family of the Lady who lost her life, They have just shown the first daylight pictures of the crash and have to say the pictures are shocking, It is a testiment to the design of the new trains that we are not looking at more people hurt.
By: Ren Frew - 24th February 2007 at 03:24
One fatality confirmed, an elderly lady…:(
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February 24, 2007 at 12:57 am