CLEARING UP operations have been continuing at Bletchley, following the derailment of a Freightliner locomotive in the small hours of this morning. Network Rail says it hopes to reopen the slow lines soon, but the scale of the damage means that the fast lines will have to stay closed until tomorrow at least.

Virgin and London Midland services continue to be extensively disrupted, with no trains serving Bletchley itself apart from the London Midland branch service to Bedford. Southern's services from South Croydon to Milton Keynes are being terminated at Watford.

The locomotive, which had been hired for passenger work by Virgin Trains and was being driven south by a Virgin driver, became derailed after it had been brought to a stand at Bletchley station at about 02.20 this morning.

After restarting the Class 90 electric locomotive left the track as it was accelerating over the points at Bletchley South Junction, causing extensive damage to the track and overhead lines, before coming to rest further down the line.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch inquiry has been underway at the scene, but a Network Rail source said the focus of this inquiry had moved away from the infrastructure, which is not thought to have been at fault.

The driver was slightly hurt, but has now been discharged from hospital after treatment.

Network Rail is warning that serious disruption is expected to continue for the rest of today at least.