Train derails in Cumbria

An elderly woman has been killed and several passengers injured after a high-speed train derailed in Cumbria.The Virgin tilting pendolino crashed near Kendal as it was travelling from London to Glasgow.All nine carriages were said to have come off the tracks before falling down an embankment.The woman who died was among 22 people who were taken to hospital following the incident.The cause of the derailment remains unclear as officials continue to investigate.Supt Jon Rush, from Cumbria Police, told a press conference: "We have got people from the Rail Investigation Branch working with our colleagues from the British Transport Police and obviously the fire and rescue service looking at the site and trying to ascertain the reasons why the train has come off the track."He continued: "The initial estimate is that the likelihood is that the line will be closed for five or six days while they make the recovery."Mr Rush said police were still working to identify the dead woman and would be contacting her family.He added that five "very seriously" injured people are still at Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Seven people were at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh with less serious injuries.Virgin Trains regional director Chris Coleman said: "Our services use high powered trains and they are very safe and a speed of 95mph at that point on the line is what it should be doing."Ordinarily that is very safe. We are shocked and very keen to find out how at that speed this train has come off the track in such tragic circumstances."He added: "Of course our first thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in this terrible accident."He said the firm would do whatever it could to help find out the cause of the accident.An emergency telephone number had been set up for worried family and friends of the passengers. It is 0800 056 0146 or, from outside the UK, 0044 207 158 0198.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | February 24, 2007

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