A county MP has written to Network Rail to demand answers after a train derailed in South Cumbria.
Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said he had seen evidence that damage had happened to the track at Grange-over-Sands around 53 hours prior to the incident on Friday, March 22.
The train derailed after crossing over a section of unsupported track which gave way as the train passed.
The track had become unsupported because a cavity had opened in the embankment on which the railway sits. The train was travelling at 56mph when the accident occurred and the front three carriages of the six-carriage train derailed.
The train struck a wall at the top of the embankment following the derailment.
Four staff and four passengers on the train were evacuated safely and there were no injuries.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.
But Mr Farron said it has emerged that Network Rail had been informed of damage to a water pipe on the line just two days before the derailment.
In the early hours of Wednesday, March 20, an incident was reportedly logged to Network Rail that the tamper – a machine which make the tracks and roadbed more durable – had struck a water pipe on the Furness Line next to Grange Golf Club, he said.
Mr Farron said: “I’m hugely grateful to the Network Rail engineers on the ground who have been working so hard to move the train and fix the sinkhole. I’m glad I was able to visit the site earlier this week and hear more about the work they’ve been doing.
“But I am deeply alarmed to have been shown evidence that an official report showed damage to the track just 53 hours before the train was derailed.
“I am hugely concerned that things could have been much worse – and lives potentially could have even been lost – if the train hadn’t stayed upright, or if the retaining wall hadn’t prevented the train falling down the embankment into the bay.
“That’s why I am seeking answers from Network Rail about this very concerning evidence.”
He has also written to train operator Northern to ask for a rail shuttle service to be put in place between Barrow and Grange, and another running from Arnside to Lancaster.
His letter to the chief executive of Network Rail says:
“It was a relief to hear that none of the passengers or staff on the train were hurt, but I am hugely concerned that things could have much worse – and lives potentially could have even been lost – if the train hadn’t stayed upright.
“It is therefore absolutely essential that every possible measure is put in place to ensure that this never happens again.
“To Network Rail I would like to ask you the following questions:
- How confident are you that there aren’t any more voids under the trackbed, along any other part of stretch of track along the bay?
- Have you investigated any link between the reported incident item 109 report 6J89 which happened at 1.15am on Wednesday 20th when the ballast tamper had reported it had struck a water pipe, and this incident which happened just 53 hours later?
- Was there any intervention by Network Rail or any of its contractors to address the leak caused by this incident in the intervening period between the strike and the derailment?
- Would you also please clarify whether the water pipe struck by the tamper on Wednesday 20th was or was not one of the pipes across the track next to the sink hole which are used to pump floodwater from the golf club into the bay?
“The Rail Accident Investigation Branch will clearly be investigating what led to this derailment, but given that the sinkhole appears to have occurred over a culvert which runs off Grange golf club, a source of regular flooding to the local area, there is a strong and clear link between the two here.
“I have been working with local residents, business owners, Grange Golf Club and the Lynster Farmers Group for several years to try to get agencies to fix the long standing flooding issue in the area which devastate the livelihoods of those in the area all too often. The possibility that the regular flooding scene on Meathop Road has led to a derailment must be further proof that this situation desperately needs fixing.
“Therefore I ask the Environment Agency to instruct the Marine Management Organisation and Natural England to resolve the ongoing flooding issues on Meathop Road.
“The closure of the Furness Line for the next two weeks will obviously provide huge negative impacts for residents, businesses and visitors. But given that only one short specific area of the track has been affected, looking at the possibility of using the rest of the line to continue frequent rail services is vital.
“Therefore I ask Northern to look at urgently introducing a shuttle rail service between Barrow and Grange-over-Sands, and another between Arnside and Lancaster, as well as a rail replacement bus from Grange to Arnside. to keep passengers moving and our local economy thriving.”
