Derailed freight train causes commuter disruption

Rail passengers are set to be disrupted for the rest of the day on multiple routes after a freight train derailed.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is investigating the incident to assess how the train came off the tracks near Bilbrook in the Wolverhampton area, Network Rail (NR) confirmed.

No trains are running between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Shrewsbury, after overhead wires were damaged in the incident, West Midlands Railway (WMR) said.

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway (LNR), Transport for Wales (TfW) and WMR services are all affected. Rail replacement services were running between Telford and Wolverhampton with onward rail travel from Telford Central to Shrewsbury.

Nobody was injured and no other trains were involved when a wagon derailed in Oxley, Wolverhampton, at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday, NR said.

It happened at low-speed, causing damage to the track and overhead power lines.

Once initial checks were complete, engineers assessed the damage "and the work needed to reopen the railway as soon as possible".

However, the complexities of removing the wagon and making the significant repairs meant disruption would most likely run into Thursday.

Adam Checkley, Network Rail's central route infrastructure director, said despite the low-speed, it still caused "significant disruption" to passengers and extensive damage to the track and overhead power lines.

"I want to thank everyone for their patience while we do this and would urge anyone planning to travel through Wolverhampton, and especially to or from Shrewsbury, to check before they travel for the latest information."

A bus shuttle service is currently running between Birmingham and Wolverhampton via Darlaston and Willenhall, NR confirmed.

"This derailment has damaged the overhead electric wires and knocked over the supports which keep them in the air," according to WMR's website.

WMR also added repairs following the incident may carry on until Thursday.

It advised people to visit its website or social media channels for up-to-date information.

A spokesperson said any passenger "delayed by 15 minutes or more as a result of this incident can claim compensation via the Delay Repay scheme".

TfW said its trains could not operate either way between Birmingham International and Shrewsbury, with rail replacement services in operation between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Customers have been advised tickets could be used on selected alternative services for no additional cost.

Avanti West Coast advised customers tickets were valid on one of the operator's two services immediately before or after their booked trains.

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