THERE is expected to be disruption across the rail network across the North-East after a train derailed between York and Leeds.

LNER, Northern, Transpennine Express and CrossCountry services are affected.

National Rail says it is due to an engineering train derailing in the Church Fenton area, near Selby in North Yorkshire, during the night.

Nobody was hurt when five wagons came off the tracks just before 2am, but no trains are currently able to run between Church Fenton and Micklefield.

This means services between York and Leeds are currently being cancelled, delayed or diverted.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day. 

Rail replacement buses are in operation on parts of the affected routes. 

The routes affected are:

  • CrossCountry between Plymouth / Bristol Temple Meads / Penzance / Birmingham New Street and Newcastle, between Leeds / Birmingham New Street / Plymouth / Bristol Temple Meads and Edinburgh
  • LNER between Leeds and Aberdeen
  • Northern between Leeds / Hull and York and also between Garforth and Church Fenton
  • TransPennine Express between Manchester Piccadilly and York, between Liverpool Lime Street and Newcastle / Edinburgh and also between Manchester Victoria and York / Redcar Central

Network Rail workers have been on site since the early hours to inspect the damage caused and establish a plan that removes the derailed train wagons, repairs the damage and gets passenger services back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.

The train was delivering new rail to the area when the incident occurred.

Before the train can be removed after a derailment, inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will have to examine the scene.

There is no indication of the cause at this time.

This incident is affecting Northern, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and LNER services and disruption is expected for at least the rest of the day.

Passengers who need to travel are strongly advised to check their journey via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and allow plenty of time. People should continue to follow the latest Government guidance and minimise travel as much as possible.

Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “I apologise for the disruption passengers are experiencing today as a result of the derailed engineering train at Church Fenton.

“Our teams have been on site since the early hours of the morning and we are working as quickly as we can to safely remove the train, inspect and repair the infrastructure, and get passenger services back to normal.

"I am grateful for passengers' patience and advise those who need to travel today to check before they do so.”