Paignton station footbridge on fire 21/07/26

[Russel]

At least with the current drought restrictions there'll be no hosing going on in those estates!

Well spotted

 

[REVUpminster]

The portacabin ticket office was at Paignton Saturday but closed. A 5 car voyager came in from Manchester 47 late at 1941 and left for Bristol at 1947 using platform 2 instead of it's usual shunt via the crossover.
I was there at 1700 to see the Kingswear-Shrewsbury train depart at 1727 which waited just off the platform so it could pass through without stopping when the signal cleared to yellow. As usual there were no staff on the station after 1700 and there were people on platform 1; train spotters like me?. The gate to the platform has been locked since the fire so I don't know how they got there.

 

[vlad]

Surprising that XC and Paddington trains are not serving Torre and Torquay yet, unless perhaps they can't use Goodrington sidings where they often rest up,

I notice that the trains to/from London Paddington are still only running as far as Torquay in passenger service, even though they're going to Goodrington to reverse. I suppose it's because they're too long to fit into the current platform at Paignton.

XC seem to be running to Paignton occasionally and at other times deciding they're going to terminate the train at Newton Abbot. There must be a reason for what they're running and what they aren't but I can't figure it out.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

I notice that the trains to/from London Paddington are still only running as far as Torquay in passenger service, even though they're going to Goodrington to reverse. I suppose it's because they're too long to fit into the current platform at Paignton.

XC seem to be running to Paignton occasionally and at other times deciding they're going to terminate the train at Newton Abbot. There must be a reason for what they're running and what they aren't but I can't figure it out.

Yes, the platform lengths at Paignton have been restricted because of the damage (one platform more than the other, I am led to believe) - GWR local trains of up to 4 vehicles (max 80m length here normally) are fine, the longer IET and Voyager formations less so.

 

[REVUpminster]

Platform 2 can take five car trains. Todays Voyager's seem to be running late and turned at Newton Abbot. Interesting to see what happens tonight as the voyager usually goes into platform 1 and reverse via the crossover to platform 2. Nine car trains work empty Torquay-Goodrington-Torquay. The tour train last Saturday waited (11 coaches and top and tailed with a diesel locomotives) just off the platform until it received the starting signal (yellow) and proceeded through platform 2. It followed a local 4 car 150 train.


Add: Tonight's voyager cancelled at Bristol.

 

[Future]

Roof now completely removed out the front of the station

 

[Davester50]

Roof now completely removed out the front of the station

Looks better without the 70's looking car port look-a-like!

 

[Russel]

Looks better without the 70's looking car port look-a-like!

It does look much more open and less like the entrance to a block of council flats.

 

[Anonymous10]

Roof now completely removed out the front of the station

perhaps the fire served a purpose.

Give it a lick of paint and it might look a little inviting.

 

[Russel]

perhaps the fire served a purpose.

Give it a lick of paint and it might look a little inviting.

There is a lot of potential, let's hope the opportunity isn't wasted.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Was it established whether the seat of the fire was the footbridge itself, or one of the buildings underneath and so at platform level?

 

[REVUpminster]

Was it established whether the seat of the fire was the footbridge itself, or one of the buildings underneath and so at platform level?

As far as I know it has not been said. The footbridge should be locked before the station staff go home. Looking at the pictures and the fire spread along the footbridge which as far as I remember was tarmac over wooden flooring I wonder if the gate was broken to start it on the upper staircase. Perhaps the boys phones have the answer.

 

[Russel]

As far as I know it has not been said. The footbridge should be locked before the station staff go home. Looking at the pictures and the fire spread along the footbridge which as far as I remember was tarmac over wooden flooring I wonder if the gate was broken to start it on the upper staircase. Perhaps the boys phones have the answer.

The bridge and structure around around it wood and covered in 100 years of paint it probably wouldn't take much to spread wherever it was started.

 

[REVUpminster]

The bridge and structure around around it wood and covered in 100 years of paint it probably wouldn't take much to spread wherever it was started.

The woodwork below the first landing looks relatively unscathed.

 

[CR165022]

Looking at the timetable from the 15th, services from Paddington will be able to run all the way to Paignton in service again instead of finishing at Torquay, but then still would still have to ECS back to Torquay to go back to Paddington

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Looking at the timetable from the 15th, services from Paddington will be able to run all the way to Paignton in service again instead of finishing at Torquay, but then still would still have to ECS back to Torquay to go back to Paddington

Trains can arrive can arrive in Platform 1, but they can only depart from Platform 2 which is currently restricted to 4 coaches.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Don't GWR IETs have SDO?

 

[CR165022]

I believe they do but if they use it at Paignton when only a few carriages can fit on the platform, it would most likely overhang on the level crossing towards Goodrington

 

[Rail Ranger]

OK thanks.

 

[CR165022]

Has the station fully reopened now? I've noticed that Paddington bound services have started running from there again instead of the ECS to Torquay situation.

 

[biglads]

Has the station fully reopened now? I've noticed that Paddington bound services have started running from there again instead of the ECS to Torquay situation.

I believe so although there are still some fenced off areas of the platform

 

[MarkyT]

I believe so although there are still some fenced off areas of the platform

The full length of platform 2 now appears available. I walked past the fenced-off fire site on the platform yesterday. There's a little gate towards the northern end of the platform that's been open lately, and I used it to access the toilets while in town, rather than walking round via the temporary south access.

 

[Russel]

Is there any timescale on repairs?