LONDON - Two carriages of a passenger train derailed but remained upright in Essex, southeast England, on Friday afternoon, with no life threatening injuries reported, according to Britain's railway infrastructure operator Network Rail.
"Two carriages have derailed but remained fully upright, and there are no significant injuries reported,” said Martin Frobisher, a safety director at Network Rail.
There were approximately 40 to 45 people on board the train when it derailed, and officers are at the scene to support the emergency services, British media quoted local authority as saying.
The rail industry "has been taking proactive steps to manage the heat for example by closely monitoring track temperatures and putting speed restrictions in place where needed,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on social media.
The incident occurred amid Britain's fifth heatwave of the year, with Thursday recording the hottest temperature of the year so far.
Hot weather, according to Britain's National Rail, can cause steel rails to get up to 20 degrees hotter than air temperature, which induces the rails to expand or buckle.
This is the second derailment in Southeast England in two days.
Two people suffered serious injuries after a train derailed close to Lewes railway station in Southeast England on Thursday, with 18 others sustaining less serious injuries. - BERNAMA