Derailed train disruption to last for about a week

News imagePA Media A photograph of the Greater Anglia train with part of the train off the track at Wickford in Essex. The train has been stopped and is not moving. Around 10 or more people are wearing orange fluorescent hi-vis with white helmets and are stood on the tracks to the right of the train.PA Media
Structures including the uprights carrying overhead electric cable were damaged

Disruption on a railway line in Essex where a train derailed is expected to continue for "at least a week".

Greater Anglia said extensive damage was caused to 1.5 miles (2.4km) of track and infrastructure after one of its services came off the line at Wickford at 14:12 BST on Friday.

The Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street train had more than 60 passengers when it happened, but they were not injured.

Jamie Burles, managing director for the train company, said: "We know this disruption will impact our customers' journeys on the lines to Southend Victoria and Southminster and we are grateful for our customers' patience as we carry out this emergency work."

A Network Rail response team was sent to the site to carry out a full investigation and assess the condition of the route.

A team of inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch were also gathering evidence as they try to work out the cause.

It is not yet known when the train will be removed from the track.

The incident happened less than 24 hours after a Southern Rail train carrying 150 people derailed near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday.

More stories on the Wickford derailment:

News imageStephen Huntley/BBC A close-up image of a Greater Anglia railway carriage. Its wheels have left the track and are resting in stones in between the metal lines. The carriage is upright, but at a slight angle.Stephen Huntley/BBC
Greater Anglia is putting on a number of rail shuttle services and rail replacement buses between stations while the Billericay to Hockley route remains closed

Greater Anglia said the railway would remain closed between Billericay and Hockley on the route between Shenfield and Southend Victoria for emergency repairs.

Key tasks included the replacement or repair of parts of the track, supporting ballast and sleepers, overhead line support stanchions and signalling equipment, and checks to other structures.

As a result, a rail shuttle service would continue between Shenfield and Billericay and between Hockley and Southend.

A limited replacement bus service would connect those two parts of the line, between Billericay and Hockley.

Between Wickford and Southminster a rail replacement service was also planned.

However, the train provider warned that rail shuttle services would be "extremely limited" and would not match the capacity of the normal timetable.

Customers are advised to use c2c services whenever possible on the route between Southend Central and London Fenchurch Street where Greater Anglia tickets will be accepted.

"Our response teams are working around the clock and doing everything they can to safely restore the line and resume normal train services as soon as possible," said Burles, who is managing director of GBR Anglia, which runs Greater Anglia, c2c and Network Rail Anglia.

"We are very sorry for the inconvenience we know this disruption to services will cause. As repair work progresses, further updates or any changes to services and the impact on journeys will be provided when they are available."

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