2025 Shap derailment

The 2025 Shap derailment occurred on 3 November 2025 when a passenger train operated by Avanti West Coast ran into a landslide obstructing the West Coast Main Line at Shap Rural, Cumbria, England. Four minor injuries were reported.

2025 Shap derailment
The train involved in the derailment, pictured in July 2024.
Location of accident within Cumbria
Details
Date	3 November 2025 (2025-11-03) 06:10
Location	Shap Rural, Cumbria
Coordinates	54°29′06″N 2°39′03″W
Country	United Kingdom
Line	West Coast Main Line
Operator	Avanti West Coast
Service	1R22 04:28 Glasgow Central – London Euston
Incident type	Derailment
Cause	Obstruction on line due to landslip
Statistics
Trains	1
Passengers	77
Crew	10
Injured	4

Incident

At 06:10 on 3 November 2025, an Avanti West Coast passenger train was derailed approximately 1 mile (1,500 m) south of Shap Summit, Cumbria. The service involved was the 04:28 Glasgow Central to London Euston (service 1R22),^[1] operated by a British Rail Class 390 Pendolino^[2] (unit number 390 117).^[3] The train was travelling at approximately 80 mph (130 km/h) when it struck the landslide.^[4] Photographs show that both of the leading vehicle's bogies and the front bogie of the second vehicle had derailed.^[5] All 87 people on board (77 passengers and 10 crew)^[6] were evacuated and taken to the Shap Wells Hotel, walking along the track to reach the hotel. Four minor injuries were reported;^[7] some passengers were reported to have suffered from shock.^[1] All the passengers had been escorted off and taken to their onward destinations by 10:40.^[8]

Aftermath

The North West Ambulance Service declared a major incident, which was stood down at 10:20.^[7] Disruption to services on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Preston was expected to last for many days.^[1] Avanti West Coast advised people not to attempt to travel north of Preston for the rest of the day.^[5] TransPennine Express services were also affected, being unable to run between Carlisle and Preston. Passengers were advised to avoid travelling if possible.^[7] The train was re-railed and removed from the site during the night of 3–4 November^[4] and was hauled to Carlisle by Class 57 locomotive 57 309.^[3] The West Coast Main Line through Shap reopened at 19:19 on 4 November,^[9] with Network Rail advising passengers that the normal timetable would resume on 5 November.^[8] Incumbent local MP Tim Farron and General Secretary of train drivers' union ASLEF Mick Whelan both issued statements requesting that Network Rail be given suitable funding to prevent similar incidents in the area.^[9]

Investigations

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch despatched a team of investigators to the site.^[10] Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road also opened investigations into the accident.^[11][5]

See also

• List of rail accidents in the United Kingdom
• Grayrigg derailment, an incident involving the derailment of a Class 390 Pendolino nearby in 2007
• Stonehaven derailment, a previous derailment involving a train colliding with a landslip