A TRAIN carrying around 100 passengers to Windermere was derailed following a landslide caused by torrential rain on the outskirts of Lancaster.

Fire crews, police and ambulances were called to the scene just off the A6 close to Lancaster University shortly after 2pm on Friday (4th), when the 12.27 Transpennine Express service from Manchester Airport hit mud and branches on the track, causing the three-car train to derail and skid almost one mile down the track before grinding to a halt.

Passengers were escorted from the train by railway staff and taken to a nearby nursing home before continuing their journey by coach.

The landslide occurred underneath the Five Ashes Lane rail bridge, one mile further down the track towards Preston, when rubble, mud and branches tumbled down the banking, blocking the track.

Around 130 people were on board the train, and one woman in her 50s, who required hospital treatment, was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

An air ambulance spokesman said that she was suffering from an existing medical condition which was exacerbated by the incident.

A spokesman for Transpennine Express said: "The passengers were shaken but fortunately there were no injuries and people continued to their destinations by coach."

He also said the train was slowing down to come into Lancaster station when the incident occurred.

The line was shut between Preston and Lancaster, causing disruption to West Coast Mainline services provided by Virgin Trains and Northern Rail.