Freight Train Derailed

Bramleyman · Freight Train Derailed

Around 2am this morning, a freight train derailed just outside Ely and on the line between Ely and Bury St. Edmunds, causing severe disruption to 'One' services between Peterborough and London Liverpool Street.
At this time, all it is known that possibly eleven wagons have seriously damaged the bridge crossing the River Great Ouse and so buses are replacing passenger services between Ely and Bury, possibly for several days now. I have seen a picture of it on Railchat forum- http://www.railchat.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php -, but can't transfer the picture, because I never took it.

nebulaman

Messy! That looks like it is going to take a while to sort out.

Bramleyman

At Least two weeks is the latest estimate, but I think possibly longer. I am just so pleased I went out yesterday and the fact the Driver is okay.

Bramleyman

Below is the write-up from the Ely Standard. Can you see the error in this like I have spotted?

A goods train has derailed leaving two wagons overhanging a bridge across the River Ouse near Littleport.

Rail firm English, Welsh and Scottish said no-one was hurt when the crash occurred on the Ely - Bury St Edmunds line at around 3am on Friday.

Eleven of the train's 37 wagons overturned, two of them damaging a bridge.

The bridge was damaged and the line - mainly used by freight trains - was closed, affecting services between London's Liverpool Street station and Peterborough via Ipswich run by the One train company. A footpath was also closed and the Ouse was shut to river traffic.

Today English Welsh and Scottish said: "The train derailed just before 3am, approximately one mile south of Ely station.

"The train was pulling 37 wagons loaded with aggregate materials. The driver is unhurt and in the incident and a full investigation is now under way."

Network Rail said that an investigation would be carried out before the train was removed from the single line track and it could be days rather than hours before the line was running again as normal.

No-one was injured.

The line is mainly used as a freight route and only one commuter service is affected by it which runs between London Liverpool Street and Peterborough via Ipswich.

Officials from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) were investigating at the scene.

A spokesman for One Railway said: "The derailment of a freight train between Ely and Soham earlier today (Friday 22 June) is disrupting train services between Peterborough and Ipswich. These services are currently terminating / starting at Bury St. Edmunds, with a replacement bus service in operation between Bury St. Edmunds and Ely (and vice-versa) where passengers can change to join train services for onward journeys to / from Peterborough.

"Ipswich to Cambridge train services are not affected by the derailment. Passengers making journeys to / from Peterborough can also travel on Ipswich to Cambridge services and change at Cambridge for Central Trains' services operating between Cambridge and Peterborough.

"These arrangements will remain in operation until further notice. Train running information is available by calling National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950, or at: www.onerailway.com

*Since when has Littleport suddenly been moved on to this line and the OHL removed?
In the photo with this same article, they refer to the wagons as carriages. As we all know, carriages carry passengers, NOT aggregate.

Bramleyman

It has just been announced on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that the Ely to Bury St. Edmunds line is not now expected to re-open until Mid September. That is slightly longer than the two weeks first announced. I heard on Monday night that it is going to take longer.

memorex

And to think, I used that line for the first time all but 3 weeks ago!

Bramleyman

memorex

nebulaman

Latest photos: http://geoffsangliaphotos.fotopic.net/c1314037_1.html

Bramleyman

It has been announced today that the river has now reopened to boating, but it will be several months before the bridge is put back across for rail traffic. I have even heard elsewhere, that it could be as late as November.

Bramleyman

The line has been finally re-opened today. It is a single line as before, and not doubled as some of us were led to believe it would be. It is going to be nice to see freight passing through March again.