AS rescuers battled late last night to free passengers still trapped in the wreckage of the Virgin train which crashed in Cumbria, those who escaped injury relived the terror of the moment the derailment took place.

Some said that the Pendolino appeared to hit something on the tracks before the crash.

Passenger Ruth Colton told BBC News 24 that most of the carriages came off the tracks at Grayrigg, near Kendal, in Cumbria.

BBC executive Caroline Thomson, another passenger, said her carriage "lurched very, very badly from side to side" before turning over.

She said it "did a sort of bump" before swaying "very dramatically indeed".

Ms Thomson, chief operating officer for the BBC, said: "I was thinking don't worry this is fine - but then the swaying became very dramatic. There was a moment where it turned on its side when you thought, you know, am I going to be very seriously hurt here?

"You knew it was something a bit more serious than normal. But you thought it has just gone a bit fast or something and it's fine and it will sort itself and then the swaying became very dramatic."

Ms Thomson said that as she was helped off the train, she could see "lots and lots" of walking wounded. She also expressed her concern for a female passenger in her carriage who appeared to have a serious back injury.

Ms Colton said some carriages were stuck up in the air and some were lying on their sides. "We all had to climb out the top of one of ours," she 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," she recalled, before describing the bumping as being "like air turbulence if you were on a plane".

Virgin's Pendolino trains have a special tilting mechanism and are restricted to speeds of 125mph.

One rail expert said that the reason for such a derailment could be a broken rail, the fact that the train was travelling too fast, or a mechanical failure.

But he emphasised that this was only speculation and that Virgin Trains had a good safety record.

A woman living about a mile from the crash site, who did not wish to be named, said the church in Grayrigg was lit up and could be preparing to offer shelter to passengers overnight.

She said: "I can see it is lit up from my front door. I don't know if they are making space for people to stay but there is certainly activity around the town."

She added that a resident of Docker, near the derailment, had been trying to get provisions for the travellers.

She said Grayrigg was on the A685 from Kendal to Tebay and one of several hamlets dotted around. She also said the railway line goes over a viaduct, which the train would have just crossed shortly before the point where it derailed.

Mother-of-three Joy Knowles, 43, who farms at Docker, said the crash happened closest to Cross Houses Farm at Lambrigg.

She said: "I think the train possibly hit a sheep. They do stray. With the best will in the world, the farmers can't keep the odd one from getting out.

"The shocking thing is I was supposed to be on that train. I had been to Leeds with my family and we decided to get off to be picked up at Carnforth instead of Oxenholme.

"We could have chosen either station and decided on Carnforth by chance. It's a relief that we did that, otherwise we would have been down there now.

"We are one field away from the accident scene and can see a huge amount of activity down there. One of the biggest problems facing the emegency services is getting vehicles to where they are needed.

"Satnav is not effective out here in such a remote area. Already tonight my children have been outside redirecting fire engines and ambulances.

"Our thoughts are with everyone on that train and the network of farms is in touch with each other by phone and text. We are all on hand to help where we can. Whether it is to give food or shelter we will do everything we can."

An official from Aslef, the train drivers' union, was on his way to the crash scene to begin inquiries on behalf of the union. An Aslef spokesman said: "Every accident on the railways is of major importance to the whole railway community."

All train services between Preston and Carlisle were suspended last night until further notice.

All sleeper services from Glasgow to the south were cancelled. Alternative arrangements were being made for passengers.


Police last night set up an emergency number for concerned relatives. The family liaison centre number is 0800 40 50 40