Woking: Train derailed on 90mph line after hitting object on track

Disruption has hit a rail operator's entire network after a train hit an object on a 90mph track in Surrey.

The incident initially closed four tracks between Woking and Surbiton before disruption spread across the South Western Railway (SWR) network.

Network Rail said the train hit the object at about 05:50 GMT in a 90mph area near Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.

SWR said services were impacted between London, Exeter St David's, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth.

Tracks will remain closed for the rest of the day.

Nick Dransfield, a passenger on the derailed train, said: "We hit something, there was a loud bang and then the train juddered and performed an emergency stop."

He added: "Sparks were erupting up the side of the train".

Mr Dransfield praised staff on the train, who he said "leapt into duty" and were checking on passengers' welfare.

It is not clear what the object was and the speed of the train at the time of the incident is not yet known, Network Rail said.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has said a preliminary examination is being carried out and a team of inspectors had begun gathering evidence.

The RAIB said a decision on whether or not an investigation would be launched would be taken once evidence had been reviewed.

The train involved was one of the first to travel through the area after Network Rail carried out maintenance work on the line over the weekend.

It has not been confirmed whether the object was involved in this work.

Disruption is expected until the end of Monday.

Network Rail said it aimed to complete repairs in time for first trains on Tuesday, but has urged customers to check before they travel.

A Network Rail spokesperson apologised for the disruption and said: "No one was injured and all passengers were safely escorted from the train, however the lines through the area are currently blocked while we investigate.

"Early investigations show the front wheels of the train are derailed, therefore it's likely to take us some time to get the railway reopened."

SWR advised customers not to attempt to travel through Woking station on Monday, and urged customers across its entire network to check journey planners before setting out that evening.

All four tracks between Woking and Surbiton were closed, which led to disruption on other routes because of crews and trains being in the wrong places.

The operator said it was working with Network Rail to re-rail and recover the stranded train before engineering teams could repair damaged tracks.

Stuart Meek, SWR's chief operations officer, said: "Incidents such as these are thankfully rare and we are all grateful nobody was hurt, in part due to the quick actions of our driver in bringing the train to a safe stop and the calm and professional way my SWR colleagues guided our customers to safety.

"It has been a difficult day for customers across our network though, and I'm sorry for the disruption this morning's partial train derailment near Walton-on-Thames has caused to their journeys and plans.

"We are working incredibly hard with our colleagues at Network Rail to safely reopen the railway in time for the first trains on Tuesday, but given the uncertainty, please check journey planners before you set off."

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