NORMAL service should resume on the East Coast Main Line today after disruption caused by a freight train derailment.

Engineers worked through the night to repair track and clear overturned wagons from King Edward Bridge, the rail crossing carrying services over the River Tyne south of Newcastle Central Station.

Network Rail said last night it hoped main line trains would be running from 6am today, although westbound services on the Tyne Valley line, to and from Carlisle, in Cumbria, may not be restored until this afternoon.

Two wagons on an empty freight train heading north from the Drax power station, in South Yorkshire, to Thornton, in Scotland, came off the rails shortly after 6.40am yesterday.

No one was injured. The Rail Accident Investigation Board has been informed.

Northbound main line services were brought to a halt at either York, Darlington or Durham for the next few hours.

A replacement bus service was in operation for passengers travelling between Darlington and Newcastle, and in the opposite direction.

Southbound rail services from Edinburgh ended at Newcastle.

Trans-Pennine Express, Northern Rail, Virgin Rail and GNER services were all affected.

From about 1pm, a shuttle service of one train an hour began running in each direction between York and Newcastle, but other northbound trains continued to terminate at York, Darlington or Durham, while southbound services from Scotland stopped at Newcastle.

Neil Henry, Network Rail North-East general manager, said an investigation was ongoing into the cause of the accident.

Mr Henry said disruption was heightened by the location of the derailment, on the bridge.

Passengers are advised to check with national rail inquiries, on 08457-484950.