Lucky escape as train derails

PASSENGERS had a lucky escape today when a fast train was derailed close to the Suffolk/Norfolk border.The first train of the day from Norwich to Cambridge partially left the track as it approached Thetford station.

PASSENGERS had a lucky escape today when a fast train was derailed close to the Suffolk/Norfolk border.

The first train of the day from Norwich to Cambridge partially left the track as it approached Thetford station.

The front wheels were derailed as the train passed over Croxton level crossing, where the line crosses the A1075 road.

There were eight passengers and the train crew on board. There were no injuries reported - the ambulance service was called but the vehicles were stood down before they reached the scene of the accident.

The main line from Norwich to Ely was expected to be closed for most of the day as the train was cleared and investigators examined the cause of the accident.

Alternative transport was being arranged for passengers, and people wanting to travel from Norwich to Cambridge were being advised to travel to Stowmarket and then catch a train to Cambridge from there.

The cause of the accident was being examined by investigators and officers from the British Transport Police.

There were immediately suspicions that it could have been caused by vandalism - an unmanned crossing is an easy target for anyone seeking to cause rail havoc.

The line is extensively used - there is an hourly train in each direction from Norwich to Cambridge and an hourly train in each direction from Norwich to Peterborough and Birmingham or Liverpool. There are also regular freight trains on the line.

The passengers on the train were picked up by a minibus and taken on to their destinations - Thetford, Ely or Cambridge.

Today's accident is the latest serious problem to hit 'one' Railway and its passengers after the problems with overhead wires in Essex over the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago commuters faced a five hour delay after overhead lines came down at Hatfield Peverel and there were two further problems with lines down at Ingatestone.

Although this incident is unrelated to those problems and affects different passengers, bosses at 'one' were once again left picking up the pieces.

Peter Meades from 'one' said: “This could have been a very serious incident, but fortunately only the front wheels of the train left the track and it remained upright. Passengers were shaken but no one was hurt.

“We will be working with Network Rail to find out what caused the problem.”