Heritage Railway Services Halted Following Staffordshire Derailment
Services have been suspended at Churnet Valley Railway after a train derailment occurred at Cheddleton Station in Staffordshire. The incident involved a non-passenger-carrying train consisting of empty coaching stock that was departing the station.
Investigation Launched Into Morning Incident
The derailment happened at approximately 9:40 AM on Friday, April 18, according to railway officials. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, which marks the first such occurrence in the heritage railway's history since it began operating steam and diesel services in 1996.
Churnet Valley Railway is now working closely with multiple authorities, including the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). A response team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where recovery operations commenced to safely rerail and remove the affected locomotive and coach.
Weekend Services Cancelled and Alternative Arrangements
As a direct result of the derailment, the popular heritage railway has been compelled to cancel all weekend services. The organization currently anticipates resuming normal operations on Wednesday, April 22, subject to the completion of recovery work and comprehensive safety checks.
In a significant development, Foxfield Railway has stepped in to support affected passengers. The neighboring heritage railway has offered complimentary travel on Sunday, April 19, for all Churnet Valley Railway ticket holders. This arrangement covers three specific departure times: 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:00 PM.
Railway Community Shows Solidarity
Volunteers at Churnet Valley Railway have expressed profound gratitude for the support from their counterparts at Foxfield Railway. In a statement, they remarked: "It's times like this that really show how well heritage railways support each other, and we're incredibly grateful to them for stepping in and helping out at short notice."
The railway has confirmed that customers with existing bookings will be contacted directly by their customer service team to arrange alternative travel dates or provide refunds where preferred. While the locomotive involved in the incident is relatively new to their fleet, railway officials emphasize that it had undergone extensive testing prior to entering service.
The organization has stated it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the derailment at this stage, but remains committed to understanding exactly what occurred and will continue to support all investigative efforts. Regular updates will be provided as more information becomes available throughout the investigation and recovery process.
