NETWORK RAIL has said that the derailment of a light locomotive at Bletchley at about 02.20 this morning caused 'substantial damage' to the track, and that only a partial reopening of the West Coast Main Line can be hoped for today.
The Freightliner locomotive was being leased by Virgin, and was under the control of a Virgin driver. The driver was reported to have needed hospital treatment after the incident. Investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have completed their initial work on site, allowing Network Rail engineers to begin carrying out repairs to the tracks and overhead lines.
Thousands of passengers are facing long delays, and are being advised to use other routes where they can. Virgin Trains from the north west and Scotland are not running south of Milton Keynes. VT services from Wolverhampton and Birmingham are terminating at Rugby. Most London Midland services from the West Midlands are terminating at Northampton, although a local shuttle is running between Northampton, Wolverton and Milton Keynes, and another special service is running between London and Tring every half hour, calling at principal stations from Watford Junction.
Robin Gisby, who is Network Rail's managing director, network operations, said: "Unfortunately there is quite substantial damage to the tracks and overhead lines following this morning’s incident. Our engineers have been on site since the small hours to assist investigators and are now carrying out repairs to the tracks and overhead lines which have been damaged.
"We hope to have two of the four lines open by the early afternoon, though it is likely that severe disruption will continue for the remainder of the day as we work to repair the more significant damage."