Landslip causes train derailment near Shap in Cumbria

A high-speed Avanti West Coast train travelling from Glasgow to London derailed near Shap in Cumbria on the morning of November 3, 2025. The 04:28 service, carrying 77 passengers and 10 crew members, came off the tracks at approximately 06:10 a.m. after reportedly striking a landslide. Passengers described hearing a “flash and a bang” followed by the train rocking and tilting before coming to an abrupt stop. Emergency services, including dozens of firefighters, police, and ambulance units, responded swiftly, and all occupants were safely evacuated. Four people sustained minor injuries.

Network Rail confirmed that a landslip had occurred along the weather-beaten section of the West Coast Mainline, situated around 275 metres above sea level. The leading vehicle of the 11-carriage train derailed but remained upright, limiting the scale of damage. Early assessments by Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) suggest the incident resulted from severe rainfall that destabilised nearby slopes. Officials have emphasised that derailments of this nature are rare and that earthwork inspections and storm resilience will be central to the ongoing investigation.

The Cumbria derailment follows a series of weather-related incidents across the UK rail network. Recent storms have increased pressure on vulnerable slopes and embankments, prompting Network Rail to invest £30 million in earthworks improvements across Lancashire and Cumbria. Although no fatalities occurred, the event highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance of trackside earthworks in regions prone to heavy rainfall and landslides.

Check out the following new story regarding the train derail in Cumbria.