Train operator Greater Anglia has suspended all services between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough after a freight train derailed on Monday afternoon. Disruption is expected to last a “number of days” due to the nature of the repair work.
A crane is needed to remove several wagons from a freight train which derailed near Manea in Cambridgeshire, near Ely, at around 2.30pm on Monday. No injuries were reported.
Network Rail engineers remain on site but repair work is “likely to take a number of days”, Greater Anglia said. It warned disruption could last until Saturday. The track has also been damaged.
A bus replacement service is running between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough, calling at Ely, March, Whittlesea and Peterborough.
The line between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge is not affected by the disruption and a normal service will continue, Greater Anglia confirmed to this newspaper.
To travel to Ely, use services between Ipswich and Cambridge, and Norwich and Cambridge. But these services may be altered or cancelled at short notice, Greater Anglia warned.
Greater Anglia said in a statement on Monday evening: “Greater Anglia is unable to operate services between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough owing to a derailed freight train near Manea.
“Services between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough have been suspended until further notice.
“Network Rail engineers are on site working to recover the derailed wagons, which is likely to take a number of days as they will require to be lifted away by crane. The track is also damaged and will need to be replaced before services can run again. Further updates and timescales will be released over the next few days.
“A limited rail replacement bus service is running between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough, to call at Ely, March, Whittlesea and Peterborough, which is being operated by Panther, Young’s and Discovery.
“Customers at Manea are advised to use the Help Point to arrange onward transport, due to road access issues.
“Customers wishing to travel to Ely can use Greater Anglia services between Ipswich and Cambridge, and Norwich and Cambridge.
“Greater Anglia services between Norwich and Cambridge, and Ipswich and Cambridge are mostly unaffected. However, some services may need to be altered or cancelled at short notice.”
CANCELLED TRAINS ON MONDAY
15:20 Ipswich to Cambridge due 16:39
15:48 Cambridge to Ely due 16:11
16:00 Ipswich to Peterborough due 17:39
16:44 Cambridge to Ipswich due 18:04
17:50 Peterborough to Ipswich due 19:28
20:00 Ipswich to Peterborough due 21:39
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here