UPDATE: Train derailment at Shap, Cumbria.

 

UPDATED 18:00 Tuesday 4 November 2025

Lines are expected to reopen between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District later tonight, following the train derailment on Monday 3 November and the subsequent repair work being completed. Avanti West Coast services north of Preston will resume from start of service on Wednesday 5 November.

An investigation is currently underway by Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to determine the cause of the incident.

Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, Andy Mellors, said: “I would firstly like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during what has been an extremely challenging time.

“Not only have our staff, industry colleagues and the emergency services been rightly praised by customers for their response to the incident as well as the disruption, but Network Rail as well as other industry partners have also been working hard to restore the infrastructure and clear the route. 

"The advice remains that we strongly advise customers continue to check the Avanti West Coast website and National Rail enquiries for the latest travel updates."

BACKGROUND

Tickets to or from destinations north of Preston dated 3 or 4 November can be used at no extra cost anytime from Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 November. Our destinations north of Preston include Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh.

If you abandoned your journey as a result of the disruption, you can claim a fee-free refund of your unused ticket from where you bought it. If you continued with your journey but were delayed by 15 minutes or more, you can claim Delay Repay compensation from the train company you were booked to travel with.

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UPDATED 09:30 Tuesday 4 November 2025

The Pendolino train which derailed at Shap yesterday, Monday 3 November, was rerailed in the early hours of this morning. It has now been moved by rescue locomotives to Carlisle where it will be stabled at the station sidings before it is taken back to a depot.

 

Image of the derailed Pendolino train being moved overnight - credit Network Rail

The travel advice remains the same and Avanti West Coast customers should not attempt to travel north of Preston on Tuesday 4 November, as recovery work is ongoing to restore the infrastructure between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District following the train derailment yesterday. Destinations north of Preston include Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh.

Tickets on this route dated Monday 3 or Tuesday 4 November can be used at no extra cost anytime from Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 November.

We will continue to update our website with further information, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to this part of our network for a number of days.

BACKGROUND

Ticket acceptance is in place on alternative routes with the following operators:

• Between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER
• Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail
• Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry
• Between Carlisle and Newcastle with Northern
• Between Preston and York with Northern
• Between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly with Northern
• Between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh with TransPennine Express

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UPDATED 18:40 Monday 3 November 2025

Avanti West Coast customers should not attempt to travel north of Preston on Monday 3 or Tuesday 4 November, as recovery work is ongoing to restore the infrastructure between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District after a train derailment on Monday 3 November. Destinations north of Preston include Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh.

Tickets on this route dated Monday 3 or Tuesday 4 November can be used at no extra cost anytime from Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 November.

We will continue to update our website with further information, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to this part of our network for a number of days.

BACKGROUND

Ticket acceptance is in place on alternative routes with the following operators:

• Between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER
• Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail
• Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry
• Between Carlisle and Newcastle with Northern
• Between Preston and York with Northern
• Between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly with Northern

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UPDATED 14:00 Monday 3 November 2025
At 06:10 today, 3 November, the 04:28 Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow Central to London Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria.

There were 86 people plus our train crew onboard. All passengers and colleagues were evacuated to the nearby Shap Wells Hotel.

All those onboard were assessed by paramedics, and four were treated for minor injuries. Thankfully, none required hospital treatment and all were discharged, and we’ve now provided transport for customers to continue their journey south or return north.

Managing Director for Avanti West Coast, Andy Mellors, said: “Our main priority is the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues following this serious incident.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for the actions of our colleagues onboard which has been warmly received and appreciated by customers.

“I would also like to thank our staff who responded, the emergency services, Network Rail and the local hotel who laid on facilities for everyone onboard. We are now ensuring we provide support to those affected.”

It has also been confirmed by Network Rail that a landslip is part of the investigation being undertaken by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have also dispatched an inspector to the site.

The West Coast Main Line will remain closed while the investigation is carried out and the train recovered. This means we have issued a do not travel to or from destinations north of Preston, and are advising of significant disruption until the route is operational. Destinations north of Preston include, Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Glasgow, Haymarket, and Edinburgh.

We will continue to develop our plans to respond to the incident and work with industry partners to reopen the network as soon as possible.

BACKGROUND:

• Ticket acceptance is in place on alternative routes with the following operators:
• Between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER
• Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail
• Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry
• Between Carlisle and Newcastle with Northern
• Between Preston and York with Northern

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08:30 Monday 3 November 2025

At 06:10 today, 3 November, the 04:28 Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria.

Our priority is the wellbeing of everyone who was onboard and getting them safely off the train. We are assisting emergency services who are on the scene.

As a result, all lines are blocked north of Preston. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today.

We’ll provide further information in due course, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to our network for a number of days.

BACKGROUND:

• There are no reported injuries at this stage.
• Ticket acceptance is in place on alternative routes with the following operators:

• Between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER
• Between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail
• Between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountry
• Between Carlisle and Newcastle with Northern
• Between Preston and York with Northern
• Between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly with Northern