A train derailed on the Churnet Valley Railway shortly after departing Cheddleton Station at 09:40 BST on Saturday, 18 April 2026, with the locomotive and empty coaching stock leaving the tracks.
No injuries were reported, and the railway confirmed the train was not carrying passengers at the time of the incident. The Churnet Valley Railway Plc (CVR) stated it was the first derailment of this nature in the railway’s history, which has operated heritage steam and diesel services since 1996.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) confirmed it had been notified and is working with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and CVR to investigate the cause. Recovery operations are underway to safely rerail and remove the affected locomotive and coach, which CVR described as a new addition to its fleet that had undergone extensive testing prior to service.
All services have been suspended since the incident and are expected to remain halted through Sunday, with a full resumption planned for Wednesday, 22 April 2026, subject to the completion of safety checks and recovery work.
CVR said it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause while investigations are ongoing, emphasizing its full cooperation with official bodies. The railway noted that this is the first incident of its kind since operations began, though one source cited an operational start date of 1966, creating a discrepancy in the timeline of the railway’s history.
In a present of solidarity within the heritage rail sector, Foxfield Railway announced it would offer free travel on Sunday, 19 April 2026, to all CVR ticket holders affected by the service suspension. Volunteers from Churnet Valley Railway praised the gesture, highlighting the collaborative spirit among volunteer-run lines.
CVR added that customers with existing bookings would be contacted directly to arrange alternative travel dates or receive refunds, and that updates would be provided as more information becomes available from the investigation.
Why did services remain suspended beyond the weekend?
Services remained suspended into Sunday and were not expected to resume until Wednesday, 22 April, given that recovery work and safety checks needed to be completed before the railway could confirm the line was safe for passenger operations.
What support did other heritage railways offer after the derailment?
Foxfield Railway offered free travel on Sunday, 19 April 2026, to all Churnet Valley Railway ticket holders as a goodwill gesture, which was praised by CVR volunteers as an example of mutual support within the heritage rail community.
