Injuries after train derails in Cumbria, causing 'days of disruption'

Four people suffered minor injuries after a train derailed in Cumbria, emergency services have said.

Four people suffered minor injuries after the 4.28am Glasgow to London Euston service came off the tracks at around 6.10am on Monday near the village of Shap. At 10.20am, NWAS stood down its major incident and said its resources were being withdrawn from the scene.

A total of 87 patients were assessed by medics, it said, with four suffering minor injuries. No one required further hospital treatment, and all were discharged from the nearby rest centre, it added.

A major incident was declared by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) after the Shortly before 9am, British Transport Police said on X its officers "were called at 6.15am today to reports of a train derailment in near Shap, Cumbria. "Thankfully, there are no reported casualties and passengers have been safely escorted from the train." Around 85 passengers were on the train, NWAS said at 9.10am, adding that "fortunately, we don't believe anyone has suffered any significant injuries".

All those on board were taken off the service, and its hazardous area response team was on scene, "triaging and offering welfare to all involved in the incident," it said. Avanti West Coast said all lines north of Preston were blocked, as it asked customers not to try to travel north of the city.

The company warned there was likely to be "significant disruption to our network for a number of days". Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed a major incident had been declared, but "there are no reported injuries".

She told LBC Radio: "I have been informed of this incident within the last half-an-hour or so. "We will work swiftly to make sure that people can get off the train safely.

I will be remaining in constant touch with the train operating company." North West Ambulance Service said "resources" have been dispatched to the incident and it is "currently assessing the situation". Other emergency services personnel are also at the scene, the trust said.

Posts on X from National Rail said the Transpennine Express line had been affected, warning "major disruption between Carlisle and Preston [was] expected until the end of the day. "A derailed train between Penrith and Oxenholme means all lines are blocked.

Trains running between Carlisle and Preston may be delayed by up to 120 minutes or cancelled." Avanti West Coast said rail replacement buses are operating between Carlisle and Preston and tickets would be accepted on LNER, ScotRail and CrossCountryUK routes. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and former Liberal Democrat leader, said: "I'm deeply concerned to hear the news coming out of Shap this morning.

Read more on Sky News:Charges over train stabbingsCrash survivor - trauma 'broke' meTeen held on drugs charges freed "My thoughts are with everyone on board the train and the emergency service workers who are now on the scene." Rail expert Nigel Harris told Sky News that "apparently the train hit a landslip at near Shap" which "derailed the front carriage. And only the front carriage, which remained upright".

It would have taken around a quarter of a mile for the train, travelling at a "not insignificant" speed, to stop, he said, and it would have been "extremely uncomfortable" for all those on board. Shap is in central Cumbria, around 10 miles (15km) south of Penrith, which Mr Harris called "the middle of nowhere, and access to that site is not easy".

At 10.20am, NWAS stood down its major incident and said its resources were being withdrawn from the scene. A total of 87 patients were assessed by medics, it said, with four suffering minor injuries.

No one required further hospital treatment, and all were discharged from the nearby rest centre, it added..