Derailed freight train causes commuter disruption

Rail passengers are set to be disrupted for the rest of the day on multiple routes after a freight train derailed.

An investigation is under way into how the train came off the tracks at low speed near Bilbrook in the Wolverhampton area, Network Rail (NR) confirmed.

No trains are running between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Shrewsbury, after overhead wires were damaged in the incident, West Midlands Railway (WMR) said.

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway (LNR), Transport for Wales (TfW) and WMR services are all affected. Rail replacement services were running between Telford and Wolverhampton with onward rail travel from Telford Central to Shrewsbury.

Nobody was injured and no other trains were involved, when a wagon derailed in Oxley, Wolverhampton, at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday, NR said.

It also confirmed that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) was investigating the incident.

A spokesperson added once initial checks were complete, engineers would assess the damage "and the work needed to reopen the railway as soon as possible".

"Services will be disrupted for the remainder of today and passengers should check National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator for the latest travel information," they said.

A bus shuttle service is currently running between Birmingham and Wolverhampton via Darlaston and Willenhall, NR confirmed.

"This derailment has damaged the overhead electric wires and knocked over the supports which keep them in the air," according to WMR's website.

WMR added repairs following the incident may carry on until Thursday.

It advised people to visit its website or social media channels for up-to-date information.

A spokesperson said any passenger "delayed by 15 minutes or more as a result of this incident can claim compensation via the Delay Repay scheme".

TfW said its trains could not operate either way between Birmingham International and Shrewsbury, with rail replacement services in operation between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Customers have been advised tickets could be used on selected alternative services for no additional cost.

Avanti West Coast advised customers tickets were valid on one of the operator's two services immediately before or after their booked trains.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.