Audenshaw train crashed 'substantial damage' to railway infrastructure, say accident investigators

The derailment of a train at Audenshaw earlier this month caused ‘substantial damage to railway infrastructure’, investigators have revealed. 

At around 11:25am on September 6, a freight train travelling between Peak Forest and Salford derailed as it passed over a bridge.

The train involved was made up of two class 66 locomotives and 24 wagons, which were loaded with aggregate. 

The teo locomotives and the leading 10 wagons passed safely over the bridge, but the next nine wagons derailed, with the last of the derailed wagons coming to a stand on the bridge itself.

No injuries were caused by the accident. However, the derailment caused substantial damage to railway infrastructure and damaged some of the wagons involved, the Rail Investigation Department has revealed in its initial findings.

Investigators said: “Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident.”

 It will also consider:

n The condition of the infrastructure at the time of the derailment

n The status and condition of the wagons involved

n Any underlying management factors.

A spokesman added: “Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

“We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation.”

Andy Burnham has promised to commission a report on the train derailment.

The train was said to be going at a ‘slow speed’ came off the tracks. 

The incident shocked local residents, with neighbours reporting a sound ‘like a building was coming down’ and comparing the impact to an ‘earthquake’.

Network Rail, who operate the line, said it could be weeks before the heavy freight carriages can be removed and bridge is repaired.

The Manchester Mayor said: “I will commission that report from the rail industry and its findings will be shared.”