The 129 tonne freight loco which derailed at Bletchley a week ago halting services on the West Coast main line was travelling too fast, rail safety chiefs said today.
All long distance services between Euston and the north came to a stop causing huge disruption the length of the UK.
Damage to the track was so bad disruption lasted several days. Initial investigations revealed today by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) conclude the derailment occured because "the locomotive was driven significantly faster than the permitted speed over the (track) junction.
"This resulted in its wheel flanges climbing over the outer rail of a curve just before it would have reached the up fast line."
Ongoing investigations include "examination of the factors that influenced the behavior of the driver."
The loco, which remained upright, tore up track and brought down overhead power cables carrying 25,000 volts. The driver was taken to hospital but was not seriously hurt.
The Evening Standard revealed at the time that although the line speed at the junction was 15 mph the damage indictated a speed "nearer 50 mph."
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