Train disruption set to continue

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Rail passengers in Edinburgh are facing a weekend of disruption after three empty coaches derailed at the city's Waverley Station on Thursday night.

Network Rail said services out of the station were not expected to return to normal until Monday.

Many services to and from Waverley were delayed or cancelled on Friday. The Edinburgh to Glasgow service was reduced to every 30 minutes.

The coaches came off the tracks shortly before 2230 GMT. No-one was hurt.

Train operator First ScotRail said an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Extra staff

On Friday, the frequency of Fife circle trains was reduced from four to two per hour, and they were among the services which started and ended their journeys at Haymarket station.

Trains travelling from Dunblane and Bathgate to Edinburgh Waverley also stopped at Haymarket.

A First ScotRail spokesman said: "Disruption is being kept to the minimum possible, and we apologise for the inconvenience.

"We have extra staff in place at key stations to assist customers with their journeys."

We will work with the train operating companies to resume services as quickly as possible David SimpsonNetwork Rail

David Simpson, Network Rail's route director, said: "Incidents of this kind are, fortunately, very rare.

"A full investigation will be carried out in order to establish why this happened and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"We apologise to all passengers who have had their journey disrupted and assure them that we will work with the train operating companies to resume services as quickly as possible."

The coaches, which were coming to a halt when they derailed, had been due to make up a section of the Edinburgh to London sleeper.

The service did not leave, with passengers instead being bussed to Carstairs before joining a Glasgow service.