Virgin Pendolino derailment near Greyrigg 23 February 2007

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

The first major derailment/accident to involve a Virgin Trains Pendolino Class 390 set took place during the evening of 23 February 2007 when set No. 390033 City of Glasgow forming the (1S83) 17.15 Euston-Glasgow derailed at around 95mph at Lambrigg Emergency Crossover near Greyrigg in Cumbria.

The force of the derailment saw the leading driving car (69233) and six other vehicles down a 40ft embankment, with the driving car landing facing the wrong direction. What caused the leading car to flip is the subject of a detailed examination.

The train was carrying around 140 passengers and staff at the time of the accident and sadly one 84 year old lady passenger Ms Margaret Masson of Glasgow died later in hospital from injuries received in the accident, up to 60 other people were injured, eight seriously. The driver of the train Ian Black of Glasgow remained in the cab during the accident and received serious neck injuries.

The accident however shows the superior strength of the Pendolino body structure in an accident and considering the type of incident involved, little structural body damage happened. On Saturday 24 February it became clear the extent of the damage, with every vehicle of the nine car set involved. Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, flew home from holiday in Switzerland to visit the scene and those in hospital, he then went on to praise the rigidity if the Pendolino stock, saying that no windows had been broken, these trains are like a tank.

Rescue of passengers from such a remote part of Cumbria was very difficult with RAF helicopters assisting in the operation. The line between Carlisle and Preston has been closed and VT and Network say that recovery of the vehicles and repairs once the investigation is complete and released by the police will take eight days.

By mid day on Saturday 24 February it was all-but confirmed that the cause of the accident was a defect with a pair of points in a cutting a short distance south from the accident scene. Sir Richard Branson told reported that he had been told the points were the cause.

The Rail Accident Investigation Board led by Thomas Edwards will head the investigation into the accident and they too confirmed that the points to the rear of the train were likely to be the prime cause. The tracks in this area are maintained directly by Network Rail staff and not sun-contractors.