RAIL operator Northern has announced that it plans to start trains again on the Furness Line at the beginning of next week. 

The date is Monday, April 22, exactly a month after a Northern train came off the line as it was approaching Grange station. 

A spokesperson from Northern said: "Works are almost complete in repairing the railway and well running some test trains over the weekend to make sure the line is ready for Monday morning.

"Thanks for everyone's patience and all those who have worked around the clock to get things ready for opening on Monday."

Network Rail engineers confirmed the work is on track to be completed next week. They described it as a 'complex' operation since a Northern train derailed on Friday, March 22. 

In the last few days, the engineers said they have been relaying the ballast (railway stones) and track before services can run again. 

The derailment involved a Northern train coming off the tracks. A void in the ground was found by engineers around 150m away from the train.

The team have been working around the clock to repair the damage as efficiently as possible, Network Rail said. 

A specialist crane was brought in to rerail and remove the train from the site of the derailment.

With the train safely removed, engineers could start to repair the railway.

A variety of methods were used to carry out a thorough investigation into the ground conditions at the site, while also carrying out complicated repairs in the challenging environment, it is reported. 

Phil James, north west route director, said: “I’m grateful to the people of Cumbria for their patience whilst we carry out this complex investigation and recovery of the railway in Grange-over-Sands following the recent derailment of a Northern train.

“Our engineers are working tirelessly to repair and reopen the railway. We are doing everything we can to get trains on the move between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness as soon as possible.”

Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern in the north west, said: “This is an important milestone in the significant infrastructure repair works that were needed in order for our services to safely resume.

"We look forward to Network Rail re-opening the line so that we can operate through rail services and re-connect our customers with the rest of our network.”