#derail train

UK News

Major rail disruption after two hurt as train hits landslide and derails

Two people were injured when a train has hit a landslide near Watford Junction causing it to strike another train and derail. One man was treated for a neck injury and a woman suffered chest pains after the accident at the Hunton Bridge Tunnel, near Watford. Emergency services and engineers were on the scene and trains in and out of London Euston were facing major disruption. It was several hours before another train could be brought in to move the 150 passengers stranded on the 6.19 service from Milton Keynes to London Euston.

There was a jolt and scraping noises. We travelled a further 20 to 30 metres and there was another sharp jolt. I believe this was the moment we clipped the train heading in the opposite direction

Passenger Danny Kelly

The landslip was caused by torrential rains, which have prompted an amber flood warning in the East, South and South East of England. Network Rail said that although a small portion of the train came off the track it remained upright. Another train travelling in the opposite direction gave it a glancing blow, it added. Passenger Danny Kelly said he was told the window of the cab of the other train had been blown out by the impact and the driver was being treated. He added: "On our train, a lady right in front of me was suffering from a heart flutter. The emergency services boarded the train and they were great with her, they sat with her throughout."

The trees were taken down from the side of the rail line last year. Trees have roots, roots hold the mud. The mud had nothing to cling on to.