The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released an update on the derailment of a freight train in Carlisle.
At around 20:03 on the 19th October 2022, the 17:15 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Carlisle Yard derailed at Petteril Bridge Junction in Carlisle.
The train was formed of a Class 66 locomotive and 14 loaded cement wagons.
Five of these wagons derailed and one wagon entered the river Petteril.
No injuries were caused by the accident but the railway infrastructure has been substantially damaged and the line from Newcastle to Carlisle has been blocked as a result of the accident.
Current evidence shows that the derailment was almost certainly caused by a wheelset with false flanges that passed over part of the junction.
False flanges are associated with flat areas on the wheel that can cause the wheels to stop rotating whilst the train is moving.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing and a report will be released in due course.
Responses
Seems strange to me how disruption has increased up and down the country with the rail strikes having little effect. Rail strikers have a rethink on what you are doing!
As the points will have to be renewed, why not at the same time re-instate the up line to replace the present single line from the station.
As well as the Newcastle to Carlisle line being blocked, so is the Settle to Carlisle line, because both these lines join together on the approach to Carlisle where this derailment occurred. Network Rail is now talking about months before the line can be re-opened because of damage to the bridge over the River Petteril.
Might be best to replace it with a generic concrete bridge.
Thats been caused by a handbrake left on the wagon
If the handbrake had been left on, wouldn’t all four wheels on the bogie have flats?
This is due to brake binding usually or bearing failure.