Northern’s out-of-service passenger train made an uncontrolled movement toward Todmorden Viaduct Junction on 7 May 2026 after the driver was given permission to move it closer to a signal. The train accident today ended with a near miss: a passenger service passed through the junction about 12 seconds later.
The incident happened at around 22:28 on Todmorden West Curve in West Yorkshire. The out-of-service train stopped close to Todmorden Viaduct Junction before the 21:57 Manchester Victoria to Leeds service came through at about 45 mph, or 72 km/h.
Todmorden Viaduct Junction
The 21:57 Manchester Victoria to Leeds service had just left Todmorden station when it passed the junction. There were no injuries or damage.
An investigation into the dangerous occurrence at Todmorden, West Yorkshire, is underway. It will look at the sequence of events that led to the near miss and publish its findings when it finishes.
Revision on Todmorden West Curve
The train was moving during revised working arrangements that temporarily increased shunting movements involving Todmorden West Curve. In this case, the driver was not aware the train was already standing with its driving cab beyond the signal, which left the move out of step with where the train had actually stopped.
That detail is the point the investigation has to resolve. The permission to move the train was given, but the train’s position meant the move happened from an unsafe starting point, and the uncontrolled movement brought it toward the junction where the other service passed through seconds later.
Dangerous occurrence at Todmorden
The investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the Office of Rail and Road. For Northern and the passengers on the 21:57 Manchester Victoria to Leeds service, the practical outcome is that the near miss is now being examined as a dangerous occurrence, with the findings expected to explain how the train moved and why the signal position was misunderstood.
The unanswered issue is straightforward: why did the train move uncontrollably after permission had been given to move it closer to the signal?
