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One dead in Cumbria train crash One dead in Cumbria train crash
(about 2 hours later)
An elderly woman has died and five other passengers have been seriously hurt in a train derailment in Cumbria.An elderly woman has died and five other passengers have been seriously hurt in a train derailment in Cumbria.
Several carriages were left on their side after the 1715 Virgin train from London to Glasgow Central crashed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at 2015 GMT. Several carriages were left on their side after the 1715 Virgin train from London to Glasgow crashed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at 2015 GMT.
Police said 22 people went to hospital and dozens more were "walking wounded".Police said 22 people went to hospital and dozens more were "walking wounded".
Rail union chief Bob Crow said he had been told the accident was due to a points failure but investigators say no cause has yet been established. Investigators say no cause has yet been established, but rail union chief Bob Crow said he had been told the accident was due to a points failure.
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RAF helicopters, police and fire crews have been sent to the scene of collision, between Oxenholme and Tebay in the Lake District. The train had about 120 people on board, Supt Jon Rush, of Cumbria Police, told a news conference.
The train had about 120 people on board, police said. He said 22 passengers had been taken to three hospitals. The Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the Royal Preston Hospital took the most serious casualties.
A spokesman for the University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust said there had been one fatality. A total of five people were in hospital with serious injuries. Police are still trying to establish the identity of the passenger who was killed, but they said she was an elderly female.
He said five passengers with severe injuries had been taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The line where the crash happened could be closed for five or six days, said Supt Rush. He added that investigators were trying to establish the cause of the crash.
The Royal Preston Hospital said 12 passengers had so far been airlifted in. It has three casualties described as being in a "critical condition", and one serious. The leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Bob Crow, told ITV News: "All our indications are that people on the scene are saying that it was a points failure.
CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 "And I think people can dismiss the idea that it was a cow on the track or vandalism."
CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
All but one of the train's carriages had totally come off the tracks, a Cumbria Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.All but one of the train's carriages had totally come off the tracks, a Cumbria Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.
Speaking at just after midnight she added that all nine train carriages had been cleared of passengers.Speaking at just after midnight she added that all nine train carriages had been cleared of passengers.
Passengers coming off the train were assessed on the scene and any minor injuries would be treated there if possible, she added. She said there were 65 people with minor injuries who were treated at the scene and a nearby farm, before being taken to the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal.
One of the passengers, BBC executive Caroline Thomson, said the train "did a sort of bump - and I was thinking don't worry this fine - but then the swaying became very dramatic. One of the passengers, BBC executive Caroline Thomson, said the train "did a sort of bump".
"It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way. This a very scary experience.""It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way. This a very scary experience."
The Pendolino tilting trains have been introduced by Virgin over the last three years and have a top speed of 125 mph.The Pendolino tilting trains have been introduced by Virgin over the last three years and have a top speed of 125 mph.
Network Rail said the line speed for the area where the crash took place was about 95 mph.Network Rail said the line speed for the area where the crash took place was about 95 mph.
Virgin services between Preston and Carlisle have been suspended until further notice and alternative arrangements for customers, using road vehicles, are being made.Virgin services between Preston and Carlisle have been suspended until further notice and alternative arrangements for customers, using road vehicles, are being made.
All Scotrail sleeper services to London have also been cancelled, with passengers being transferred to coach services.All Scotrail sleeper services to London have also been cancelled, with passengers being transferred to coach services.
First picture of passengers inside the crashed train More than 20 people were taken to hospital
Another passenger on the train, Ruth Colton, said: "I was just reading a book and it started to get really bumpy like we were being battered by heavy winds or something and then suddenly the carriage flipped over. Those living close to the site described hearing the crash.
"We all had to climb out the top of one of ours... There's some carriages stuck up in the air and some are just lying on their side". Adam Pashley, 19, said: "It was one hell of a bang but I never thought it would be a serious incident.
"About 15 minutes later I was looking out of my bedroom window and suddenly I started to see police and ambulance crews."
Donald Potter said: "My house is only about 120 yards from the track and I was sitting at my desk when I heard a very strange sound, it was completely unidentifiable, like nothing I have ever heard before, and lasted for about ten seconds."
People worried about friends or relatives on the train are asked to ring a Cumbria Police helpline on 0800 056 0146 or a British Transport Police family liaison centre on 0800 40 50 40.People worried about friends or relatives on the train are asked to ring a Cumbria Police helpline on 0800 056 0146 or a British Transport Police family liaison centre on 0800 40 50 40.
Passengers, meanwhile, are being advised to ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 before starting journeys.Passengers, meanwhile, are being advised to ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 before starting journeys.
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