The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has opened a preliminary investigation into what caused the derailment of a passenger train at Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria on Friday, 22 March.

The derailment occurred at approximately 06:05 on 22 March when a Preston to Barrow-on-Furness passenger train was derailed after crossing over a section of railway track on an embankment that had become unsupported because a cavity had opened underneath the track.

The cavity underneath the track had left the track above it, causing potential danger to any train passing over it.

At the time of the derailment, the train involved was travelling at 56 mph. When the incident occurred, the front three carriages of the six-carriage train were derailed followed by the train striking a wall on top of the embankment.

Fortunately, the train remained upright and came to a stop with the rear of the train about 31 metres beyond the unsupported track.

Four passengers and four members of staff were travelling on the train when the accident occurred, but fortunately, none of them suffered any injuries. However, both the train and the railway infrastructure sustained significant damage.

During its investigation the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will seek to determine the sequence of events leading up to the derailment accident, and will also consider:

• The condition of the railway track.
• The condition of any nearby drainage
• How the relevant railway maintenance activities were planned and managed.
• whether the management of the railway infrastructure at this location was relevant to the likelihood of local flooding.
• Whether there were any underlying management factors.

LocoStop Community Member, Matilda, managed to capture the crane lifting the derailed train back onto the tracks. You can see her video below: