Rail passengers are being thanked for their patience after a freight train derailment cut off two key rail routes in Carlisle for seven weeks.
Since 6am today, Wednesday December 7, direct trains are now running again on the Tyne Valley line between Carlisle and Newcastle and the Settle to Carlisle line between Carlisle, Appleby and Skipton.
Network Rail engineers have been working around the clock to restore the railway at Petteril Bridge junction after a train carrying 14 wagons full of powdered cement left tracks on Wednesday October 19.
People have had to use rail replacement buses between Carlisle and Newcastle and the Settle to Carlisle line between Carlisle, Appleby and Skipton as the line was closed in both directions.
Five wagons – each filled with 80 tonnes of powdered cement – came off the tracks at Petteril Bridge Junction.
One wagon ended up in the River Petteril and two others came to rest on the railway embankment. An initial investigation said a faulty wheel was to blame.
An 800 tonne crane was brought in to recover the wagons.
Huge damage was caused to a Victorian-built railway bridge, railway lines and signalling equipment during the incident.
More than 25,000 hours of work has taken place to get the railway restored so trains can run again.
Mark Evans, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we worked tirelessly to get the railway back up and running after it was severely damaged by the freight train derailment.
“This has been a very complex recovery and repair job. Now it’s complete this major railway junction is future-proofed and has been strengthened in the very rare event anything like this should happen again meaning more reliable journeys for passengers and freight for years to come.”
Kerry Peters, regional director at Northern, said: “We have been working very hard with Network Rail to reopen the railway at Petteril bridge following the freight train derailment in October.
“Now that work is complete, Northern services have resumed on both the Tyne Valley and Settle to Carlisle lines – and we have allocated extra advance purchase fares to welcome people back on-board. We’d like to thank our customers for being patient during this disruption and everyone involved in getting our passengers moving again.”
