Emergency services rushed to Shap in Cumbria after a train travelling from Glasgow to London derailed early this morning.
The 04:28 service from Glasgow came off the tracks at around 06:10 GMT. Passengers told the BBC the train "rocked and tilted" with a "real big screech".
Avanti West Coast said 86 people were on board, including rail staff, and four suffered minor injuries.
The company warned that travel disruption is likely to last "a number of days". On social media, it said: "Due to a derailed train between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District, all lines are blocked. We are strongly advising customers not to travel north of Preston today."
Ambulance workers assessed 87 passengers but "no one required further hospital treatment". Four people suffered minor injuries, North West ambulance service said.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said the derailment would have been a “terrifying experience” for those involved.
He said he was “very concerned” about the derailment of the Avanti train, which had been travelling from Glasgow to London on Monday. Stressing that “rail travel is normally a very safe way of travel”, the First Minister told the PA news agency that “when these incidents happen, they are matters of enormous concern and require detailed investigation”.
He added: “On the information that I have available to me just now, there do not appear to have been any injuries for the passengers who were on the train, but this will have been an absolutely terrifying experience to have witnessed, so it’s important that all support is in place for everyone that’s affected.”
Mr Swinney also said the Scottish Government was in touch with the UK Government “about the steps that are being taken to investigate the incident and also to support those affected”
Network Rail said there were no injuries to any members of the public as they praised emergency responders.
"Passengers and crew, which totalled 87 people on the train in total, were safely evacuated from the train and brought to the nearby hotel, Shap Wells Hotel, here in Cumbria, where staff, colleagues and emergency responders have done an excellent job in looking after and ensuring everybody's welfare," Mr MacDougall said.
"I'm pleased to confirm that there are no injuries to either members of the public, the customers or the staff involved in the service."
Sam MacDougall, Network Rail's operations director, has said early indications suggest the train hit a landslide before derailing.
"The train design has worked extremely well as the vehicle remained upright, albeit the leading vehicle derailed," he said. A "full and thorough" investigation has been launched.
An operation remains in place as crews continue to clear the scene in Shap.
Images taken earlier showed a crushed carriage with exposed pipework and wires, while another showed the Avanti West Coast train coming off the tracks – where emergency crews helped passengers off.
Four people suffered minor injuries following the train derailment near Shap in Cumbria, North West Ambulance Service said.
Ambulance workers assessed 87 people but "no one required further hospital treatment", it added. It said that the major incident declared on Monday morning has been "stood down".
"We can now confirm that we have stood down from major incident status and are withdrawing resources from the scene," the service said. Our colleagues have assessed a total of 87 patients, with only four suffering minor injuries.
"No one required further hospital treatment, and all were discharged from the nearby rest centre. An operation remains in place with our partners as they continue to recover the scene."
An image shows the Avanti West Coast train after it derailed in Shap, Cumbira. Commuters have been warned to expect significant disruption for several days.
A map shows where the Avanti West Coast train derailed shortly after 6am this morning.
British Transport Police have said the passengers have been safely removed from the train, adding there are no reported casualties.
"Officers were called at 6.15am today to reports of a train derailment near Shap, Cumbria.," it said in a statement. "Thankfully, there are no reported casualties and passengers have been safely escorted from the train. Officers remain on scene alongside emergency services responding to the incident."
Roughly 130 passengers have been taken to the nearby Shap Wells Hotel.
Shabeeh Hassan, director of the hotel, says the commuters arrived from 07:30am and appeared to have no injuries.
He told BBC Radio Cumbria some of the passengers are in shock. "I'm doing as much as I can just to make them comfortable," he said.
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and former Liberal Democrat leader, has voiced his concern over this morning's train derailment.
He said: "I'm deeply concerned to hear the news coming out of Shap this morning. My thoughts are with everyone on board the train and the emergency service workers who are now on the scene."
A member of the public has shared an image of a crushed train in Shap. The X user said it "hit a landslip at approximately 90mph".
Long live the 390 – Tough as teak #Shap pic.twitter.com/s2DsPcXbZE
Avanti West Coast have warned commuters to expect significant disruption to its network for a number of days.
A spokesperson said: “At 06.10hrs today, 3 November, the 0428 Avanti West Coast service from Glasgow to Euston was reported to have derailed at Shap in Cumbria. Our priority is the wellbeing of everyone who was board and getting them safely off the train. We are assisting emergency services who are on the scene.
“As a result, all lines are blocked north of Preston. Please do not attempt to travel north of Preston today. We’ll provide further information in due course, but it is likely there will be significant disruption to our network for a number of days.”
According to a map by Avanti West Coast, the train derailed between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District this morning.
Avanti West Coast say tickets are being accepted on alternative routes between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh with LNER, between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with ScotRail and between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street with CrossCountryUK.
Travellers are being told they should not try to travel north of Preston.
Rail replacement buses are operating between Carlisle and Preston, National Rail said.
Avanti West Coast has warned commuters not to travel north of Preston.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told LBC Radio said work would be carried out swiftly to get people off the derailed train in Cumbria but there are no reported injuries.
She said: “I have been informed of this incident within the last half an hour or so. I know that a major incident has been stood up. There are no reported injuries. We will work swiftly to make sure that people can get off the train safely.
“I will be remaining in constant touch with the train operating company and the railway accident investigation branch.”
National Rail said the incident happened between Penrith and Oxenholme, affecting trains running between Carlisle and Preston.
Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said a major incident had been declared following a train derailment near Shap in Cumbria but “there are no reported injuries”.
North West Ambulance Service has sent "resources" to the scene of the incident near Shap, where other emergency services are said to be at the scene.
The ambulance service said in a statement: "Following reports of a train derailment near Shap in Cumbria, the trust has dispatched resources to the scene. We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services.
"Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible."
Train firm Avanti West Coast said on social media: “Due to a derailed train between Penrith North Lakes and Oxenholme Lake District, all lines are blocked. We are strongly advising customers not to travel north of Preston today.”
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