Passengers saved after train derailed by landslide
PASSENGERS were rescued in the Highlands yesterday after their train was derailed by a landslide.
Tons of dirt and mud tumbled down slopes on to the track near Arieniskill Bridge, in Invernessshire, buckling the rails.
The two-carriage 6.03am Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street service was stranded in the debris between Arisaig and Glenfinnan.
It was carrying five passengers, who were unhurt.
They were picked up by specially adapted Land Rovers sent by Network Rail. The vehicles – fitted with retractable wheels that allow them to travel on train tracks – ferried them to taxis so they could complete their journeys.
Later services along the route were cancelled and a replacement bus service was put on.
On social media yesterday, ScotRail initially tweeted that the line would be closed until Thursday but later amended that to ‘until further notice’. It was not known when the route will reopen.
William Simpson Jr took photos of the landslip which was made up of ‘a few hundred tons of mostly muddy rocks’.
He said: ‘I was just driving along towards Fort William and out of the corner of my eye I saw a large landslide and noticed the train in the middle of it.’
Network Rail said that work to clear the landslip would begin only after engineers had completed checks, including aerial inspections, to ensure the slope above the railway is stable.
David Dickson, ScotRail Alliance infrastructure director, said: ‘Our engineers are on site assessing the damage and working to put plans in place to repair the line.
‘We will reopen the railway as soon as possible, but significant work is required to clear the line and stabilise the slope above.’