Greater Anglia Derailment Cancels All Services for 45 Passengers as Essex Disruption Extends Into Saturday
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 14
Greater Anglia Derailment Cancels All Services for 45 Passengers as Essex Disruption Extends Into Saturday
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 14
Summary
Two rear carriages of a Greater Anglia train from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street left the tracks south of Wickford at 14:12 BST, leaving about 45 passengers unhurt but halting the line.
Network Rail said major disruption will last until at least Saturday, with services cancelled and knock-on problems for routes serving Southminster, Braintree and Southend Airport.
RAIB investigators and emergency crews, including an air ambulance, were sent to the scene as witnesses described the train swinging violently, smoke entering a rear carriage and passengers panicking in 33C heat.
The inquiry is examining whether hot weather played a role after Network Rail said this summer has posed exceptional challenges, and the derailment came less than 24 hours after a separate East Sussex incident injured two passengers.