LAKE District tourists travelling by road or rail for the Easter break had to put up with lengthy delays as traffic jams clogged roads and a derailment held-up mainline trains.

Tailbacks of up to 50 miles were reported on the M6 on Good Friday as motorists headed to the Cumbrian countryside to enjoy the long weekend.

Northbound traffic, stretching from between junction 28 at Leyland and junction 36, was stationary for much of Friday morning as motorists attempted to make the most of the scorching weather.

Meanwhile, those choosing to head home by rail on Sunday found themselves herded on to buses or subject to up to two-hour diversions via slow track after two non-passenger trains collided near Shap at around 11pm on Saturday.

Overhead powers lines were ripped down and rails were broken when the trains that were involved in engineering works came to blows. Network Rail and Government rail inspectors have since begun an investigation into the cause of the collision.

Engineers waited until Sunday afternoon for a crane to arrive in order to shift five weighty wagons that had fallen on to the track before they could repair damaged rails. The West Coast Mainline was not re-opened until 7.15am on Bank Holiday Monday.

Allan McLean of Virgin Rail said around fifteen passenger services shuttling between London and Glasgow had been affected by the derailment. Services were either diverted along the Settle to Carlisle line adding around two hours to journey times or passengers were transferred onto special bus services to Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle after mainline trains were terminated at Preston or Lancaster.

By Monday morning services were back to normal although slightly slowed by a temporary track speed restriction.

"Easter Sunday is one of the quietest days of the year for long distance rail travel," said Mr Mclean by way of consolation. "Many fewer people were inconvenienced than would have been the case on a normal Sunday."

April 21, 2003 12:00