More details revealed around Audenshaw train derailment as official investigation launched

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A freight train derailment caused 'substantial damage to railway infrastructure', investigators said today as an official probe into the incident was announced.

A huge emergency services operation was launched earlier this month after wagons full of aggregate came off the tracks on the Stockport to Stalybridge line near Sidmouth Street in Audenshaw, Tameside, with residents living near the scene reporting hearing a sound 'like a building was coming down' and houses shaking.

One said pictures fell off the walls inside their home and described fearing an 'earthquake' had hit. The freight train was said to have been travelling at 'low speed' at the time and there were no reported injuries. READ MORE: Mum, 21, pushing her baby in a pram slammed for 'extraordinary' decision The Rail Accident Investigation Branch released further details today - Monday - and said nine of the trains 24 wagons derailed in total, with the last one coming to a standstill on the bridge itself.

The agency also confirmed what the investigation would look into, and said the derailment caused 'substantial' damage. In a statement, RAIB said: "At around 11.25am on September 6, a freight train travelling between Peak Forest and Salford derailed as it passed over a bridge in Audenshaw, Manchester. "The train involved was made up of two class 66 locomotives and 24 wagons, which were loaded with aggregate.