Rail services resume after derailment

Rail services are due to return to normal after more than two days of disruption caused by a derailed train.

National Rail said it had to close the line between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton at Oxley on Tuesday evening after part of a freight train left the rails, damaging the tracks and overhead lines.

It said "significant repairs" were needed, but the line had reopened, allowing services to resume on Friday, at reduced speeds.

It warned this could mean delays or cancellations until 09:00 BST, but said Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast services were no longer affected.

When the line was closed, services run by Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Shrewsbury were all affected.

Replacement buses were brought in to carry passengers who were unable to travel by train.

Network Rail said it had been "challenging" to move the derailed 100-tonne wagon back onto the tracks before repairs could be carried out.

It said as well as the repairs to the track and overhead power lines, a new signal and supporting structure had been installed, to allow trains to run safely through the area again.

It also added that while passenger services were running again, engineers would continue to carry out repairs on an adjacent freight line.

This would include replacing about 100 sleepers and 60m of rail, it said.

Network Rail said it continued to work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to look into the cause of the derailment.

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