A high-speed train traveling from London to Scotland derailed Friday night and sent carriages slipping down an embankment, killing at least one person and injuring dozens, officials said.

The injured are at least 77 people, 12 of which are in very serious condition.

The state-of-the-art Virgin Pendolino tilting train, heading from London to Glasgow, derailed at 150 kph shortly after 8 pm UK time on Friday in a remote area of Cumbria, after reportedly hitting an obstruction

A Royal Lancaster Infirmary spokeswoman confirmed early Saturday that one person had died of injuries sustained in the crash. Cumbria Police Detective Superintendent Jon Rush identified her only as an elderly woman.

Emergency workers had to battle difficult conditions including torrential rain to try and reach around 120 passengers, some of whom were trapped in the overturned carriages tangled in downed power lines. The roof of one carriage had been torn off in the accident, another was left hanging over the embankment's edge.

The police are still unsure how that exactly has happened.

The area where the train derailed Friday has seen two accidents on its railway lines in the past four years.

The leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Bob Crow, said it was thought a points failure was to blame.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!