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#18003 by n/a
23 Feb 2007, 22:03
A Virgin train has derailed and slid down an embankment in Cumbria, witnesses say.
Witnesses said the train derailed before sliding down an embankment and a number of carriages were on their side. It is unclear if people were injured.

It is understood the train was the 1750 GMT Virgin Train from London's Euston Station to Glasgow.
#161246 by locutus
23 Feb 2007, 22:06
Link here
#161252 by tallprawn
23 Feb 2007, 22:27
Sky News coverage. One carriage rolled down the embankment, early reports say 6 people trapped.

Train is quoted as hitting an object causing it to de-rail.
#161254 by jerseyboy
23 Feb 2007, 22:41
Reports currently suggesting approximately 100 injured passengers of varying degrees. There is currently no mention of fatalities and pray god that this may remain the case.
#161255 by VS075
23 Feb 2007, 22:41
Apparently its 4 coaches on their side, others remain upright but all of them has slid down the embankment.

My thoughts are with all of the passengers involved and to those who are injured.
#161259 by locutus
23 Feb 2007, 22:46
My thoughts are with those on the train, but it does amaze me that during these types of incidents, the first thing people do nowadays is take pictures and video on their mobile phones, and not to get out and get to safety.
#161263 by MarkJ
23 Feb 2007, 22:56
These incidents are so sad and so tragic if there are fatalities and injuries. Life snatched away from someone, their family and loved ones!!

My heart goes out to all those involved[:#]
#161268 by VS075
23 Feb 2007, 23:17
Not going into detail but the dozy readers on Sky News need to get their facts right!!! They say it was a 6-car train but the Pendolinos are 9-car trains!
#161274 by VS045
23 Feb 2007, 23:44
Just caught the end of this on the BBC news - what was the cause?

VS.
#161278 by locutus
24 Feb 2007, 00:17
Originally posted by VS045
Just caught the end of this on the BBC news - what was the cause?

VS.


Still unknown, they are suggesting a broken rail, train going too fast, something on the line, etc., but it's too dark and early to tell.
#161281 by locutus
24 Feb 2007, 00:29
Not sure Virgin Trains are coming out of this too well at the moment. They still don't have the BTP phone number on their web site (22:25), and people are complaining of calls going to voice mail when they call them.

You would hope that they would have procedures in place for this sort of thing, instead of just sounding like they haven't got a clue on BBC News 24.
#161313 by VS045
24 Feb 2007, 11:46
Reports currently suggesting approximately 100 injured passengers of varying degrees. There is currently no mention of fatalities and pray god that this may remain the case.


One fatality now

VS.
#161319 by Decker
24 Feb 2007, 12:13
Hence the Sun headline "Death Train"....
#161348 by JAT74L
24 Feb 2007, 18:20
Looking very like a track defect (there are four pairs of points about half a mile south of the derailment location).

I must say, the Pendo has stood up well and is in remarkably good condition for something that's just come off the road at 95 mph. Driver Ian Black stayed at his post and did his best to get the speed down but it must have been one hell of an experience - one that I hope I never share.

Regards

John
#161353 by Decker
24 Feb 2007, 18:57
Props to Mr Black seem to be in order then.
#161390 by VS075
24 Feb 2007, 22:58
Originally posted by Decker
Hence the Sun headline "Death Train"....


They want shooting...the careless f***wits at The Sun!

The Sun...We HATE It!
#161400 by RichardMannion
25 Feb 2007, 00:10
4m people a day buy it. Must be the same fools that watch all the trash TV and then vote for the evictions....
#161418 by MarkJ
25 Feb 2007, 09:20
Originally posted by Decker
Hence the Sun headline "Death Train"....


Knobs!
#161419 by Littlejohn
25 Feb 2007, 09:25
Originally posted by RichardMannion
vote for the evictions....
What evictions?

Seems a pretty tasteless headline to me. Confirms all my views of the Sun (and Star, and Sport..)
#161420 by MarkJ
25 Feb 2007, 09:35
Originally posted by sailor99
Originally posted by RichardMannion
vote for the evictions....
What evictions?


I think Richard was referring to the tabloid fixation with reality TV shows where they wind up the gullible general public with stories about the participants - and then get them to vote in a particular way!

It never ceases to amaze me that people will say that the "General Public" is a sensible group which knows it's own mind and then watch as one or other tabloid newspaper completely influences the way people do things?
#161435 by VS045
25 Feb 2007, 11:02
I wouldn't touch the Sun, Daily Mail, News of the World etc with a barge-pole;)

VS.
#161447 by MarkJ
25 Feb 2007, 14:31
Have to say respect to SRB for getting up there and being on scene. May turn out that Virgin Trains carry some responsibility but at least he put himself there.

Amazing that only one person was killed and also really amazing that none of the windows in the carriages smashed. My thought about that though is what happens if you need to break one to escape - do they have one of those "window smashers" on board?
#161450 by VS045
25 Feb 2007, 15:36
one of those "window smashers"


Is that a technical term?;)[:w]

VS.
#161451 by locutus
25 Feb 2007, 16:03
I was surprised to see there were no smashed windows. ISTR there are window breakers on Virgin Trains, though I may be thinking of other trains.

Saying that though, it sounds like it was pitch black, not sure it would be easy to find the hammer, break the case and then break a window, especially if the window was above you.
#161470 by willd
25 Feb 2007, 18:45
Originally posted by VS075
Originally posted by Decker
Hence the Sun headline "Death Train"....


They want shooting...the careless f***wits at The Sun!

The Sun...We HATE It!


Still haven't forgiven them for the Hillsborough mess- Justice for the 96 YNWA.

Thoughts with the families of those involved in the train crash- hat off to the driver. Surprising no one else died- The safety of these new trains is incrediable when one thinks of the disasters in the past.
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