HST Fire at Neath

[Coxster]

43176 (MTU) on the 06:00 Swansea to London Paddington. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6297337.stm

Delays ease following train blaze

Rail company First Great Western says services are returning to normal across south Wales after a passenger train caught fire approaching Neath station.

Severe delays were caused after an exhaust fire in the front engine of the 0600 GMT Swansea to Paddington service.

Twenty passengers were moved to the rear of the train but no-one was hurt.

First Great Western said alternative transport had been arranged for passengers and services were retuning to normal.

Firefighters were called to the track next to the Smith's Arms pub, in Neath Abbey, at 0624 GMT after a passenger raised the alarm.

Fire crews used chemical foam and fire blankets to extinguished the blaze.

'Apologise for disruption'

Passengers and crew were kept on board and were checked by paramedics.

The train was later moved to a maintenance centre in Landore, Swansea, for examination.

A First Great Western spokesman said all the passengers on the service had been "taken away by taxi to other stations so they can complete their journeys".

The spokesman said: "We can only apologise for the disruption caused to anyone who was affected by it.

"But I am happy to say that services are now rapidly returning to normal."

In south Wales, the main line between Swansea and Cardiff was closed and a bus shuttle used to ferry passengers to Cardiff.

Other commuter services were delayed as services were redirected.

Disruption caused by the fire had a knock-on effect as far away as Bristol, where passengers bound for London were awaiting the service.

A London-bound train from Bristol Temple Meads was redirected through Bristol Parkway to pick up passengers.

 

[Gizmogle]

Gotta love First Great Western ...thank god I'm up here away from them!

 

[devon_metro]

Yay, Go MTUs!

 

[Turbostar]

Maintenance Centre??? lol I take it someone phoned in on behalf of the power car beforehand to make an appointment lol ign5:

Mart

 

[voyagerdude220]

Notice the fact that the BBC just dragged out an older picture of an HST PC, not a crappy dynamic lines livery PC/or an MTU.

There again, the BBC just want negative publicity against the railway, but in this case its good that they are IMO, because its FGW.

Having said that, i like the FC lounge at Bristol Temple Meads (although its not as good as VT lounges) so i'll be quiet now.

 

[Techniquest]

The old FC lounge at Paddington is better IMO.

I trust no-one has found pictures of this? I'd love to see them!

 

[class 313]

Yay, Go MTUs!

Who said it was a MTU?

 

[devon_metro]

It was...

 

[Coxster]

Who said it was a MTU?

It's number probably.

Notice the fact that the BBC just dragged out an older picture of an HST PC, not a crappy dynamic lines livery PC/or an MTU.

Yeah, Barbie 1, of which has been obselete from power cars for a while now.

 

[Turbostar]

We have the same prob down here with ITV Westcountry. Every time they have a news report (like recently with the reduction in available trains down here), 9 times out of 10 they have shots of HST's in the old GWT/FGW 'fag packet' livery! Talk 'bout blast from the past, time they updated their film clips! lol :-P

Mart

 

[Craig]

Obviously it was too hellfire...

 

[devon_metro]

We have the same prob down here with ITV Westcountry. Every time they have a news report (like recently with the reduction in available trains down here), 9 times out of 10 they have shots of HST's in the old GWT/FGW 'fag packet' livery! Talk 'bout blast from the past, time they updated their film clips! lol :-P

Mart

Same applies to Spotlight!

 

[Tom]

... and South Today!