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Friday 8 May 2026

Railway reopens between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Train services between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury have restarted after major repairs were made to damage caused by a freight train derailment.

Since the low-speed freight derailment in Oxley, Wolverhampton, on Tuesday evening (5 May), teams have worked continuously to safely recover the freight wagon and carry out urgent repairs to damaged track and overhead power lines. 

This has included significant repairs to overhead power lines, as well as installing a new signal and supporting structure, to allow trains to run safely through the area again.

While passenger services are now running, engineers will continue follow‑up recovery and repair work alongside the operational railway. This includes replacing around 100 sleepers and 60 metres of rail on an adjacent freight line.

Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail’s Central route, said: “This has been a hugely challenging situation, but our teams have worked tirelessly to safely reopen the railway for passengers.

“Although the derailment happened at low speed, it caused significant damage to the track and overhead power lines, making this a complex recovery. 

"I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out this work, and we encourage people to continue checking before they travel.”

The derailment occurred at around 8.30pm on Tuesday 5 May, when one wagon of a freight train came off the tracks, causing damage to the railway infrastructure. There were no injuries, the wagon remained upright, and no other trains were involved.

Network Rail continues to work closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to understand the cause of the incident.

Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.