Major Disruption At Nottingham Due To Fire (12/01)

[Starmill]

Northern is showing 'No Problems' if you enter Nottingham - Leeds!

To be fair they're on strike today so they will still have 100% PPM for services to Nottingham

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

“Please note we have a wider selection of hot snacks on board today”

"Introducing our new Smokehouse range of artisan sandwiches."

 

[thenorthern]

Structural checks are underway.

Hopefully its not too bad but given the main station building is over the tracks I think the potential for damage is much greater than at most stations.

 

[LowLevel]

Catering trolleys and EPOS equipment might have been damaged as well.

You can live without the Dragon's Wagon but in any case Rail Gourmet live down the East end of platform 3 (that's a matter of public record as they have a sign outside their door!). EMT and Interserve Cleaning facilities of various types (not going to go into detail) are under the main station bridge. I'm being deliberately somewhat vague while trying to stay informative as I'm sure what is being posted online about this issue will come under some scrutiny!

 

[gavin]

Hopefully its not too bad but given the main station building is over the tracks I think the potential for damage is much greater than at most stations.

Substantial damage caused from a mix of water smoke and the actual fire

 

[Bletchleyite]

Substantial damage caused from a mix of water smoke and the actual fire

Presumably the short-term fix will be a temporary footbridge of some kind (not sure how disabled access will be resolved short-term, possibly free taxis to nearby stations on demand?) to some Portakabins in a suitable area e.g. car park?

 

[gavin]

Presumably the short-term fix will be a temporary footbridge of some kind (not sure how disabled access will be resolved short-term, possibly free taxis to nearby stations on demand?) to some Portakabins in a suitable area e.g. car park?

Does Nottingham have any underpasses under the platforms like York has?

 

[tsr]

"A trolley service of drinks and alight refreshments will be available on this train."

 

[LowLevel]

Does Nottingham have any underpasses under the platforms like York has?

No. It does have a barrow crossing which was closed last year but is apparently under repair to be reinstated all being well. That links the two islands and the medical centre car park on Station Street for emergency access. Platform 7 can be accessed via Queens Road.

 

[kevjs]

Does Nottingham have any underpasses under the platforms like York has?

No - but it does have a second bridge which seems to have been unaffected. Only stairs though IIRC. Bit of a trek from the main concourse to that though - but is linked to the tram at both ends - one of which sounds like it will be out of action for some time, but the Loxley House end should be okay

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

"A trolley service of drinks and alight refreshments will be available on this train."

You win.

In all seriousness, let's hope it's not as severe as some sources suggest. Anyone know if larger stations such as this typically have sprinklers installed to any extent?

 

[Bletchleyite]

You win.

In all seriousness, let's hope it's not as severe as some sources suggest. Anyone know if larger stations such as this typically have sprinklers installed to any extent?

I'd imagine they do, but not in the roof space where most of this fire was.

 

[thenorthern]

There are indeed two footbridges one by the booking hall and a smaller one the opposite side of the tram viaduct.

 

[kevjs]

You win.

In all seriousness, let's hope it's not as severe as some sources suggest. Anyone know if larger stations such as this typically have sprinklers installed to any extent?

Obviously hard to tell from outside too much, but the old taxi area looked fine (if anything cleaner than normal!) as did the waiting area. What you could see of the dispersal bridge was a bit darker than normal (although it appeared all the lighting was off) but otherwise intact. From what Notts fire service have described it's sounding like the area between the loos and tram/car park has been damaged, as has the roof of the dispersal bridge between platforms 2 and 4 (although the photos they've tweet suggest it's between 4 and 7).

The rest of the building is smoke damage - all the doors were wide open at lunch time as I walked pass. How much effort will smoke damage to take to sort - disposal of food/cloth and a clean or is it more involved than that?

Radio Nottingham are reporting most fire fighters/engines have now left, but they are still fighting the fire in the roof.

 

[John Webb]

You win.

In all seriousness, let's hope it's not as severe as some sources suggest. Anyone know if larger stations such as this typically have sprinklers installed to any extent?

I am not aware of any surface level UK railway station that has been fitted with sprinklers. There are several problems - firstly the height of overall station roofs takes sprinklers to the limit of their operation, the open nature of most stations allows breezes through which could deflect the heat away from the nearest sprinklers delaying operation or causing sprinklers away from the fire to activate, a 'dry' sprinkler system (ie one filled with air when not in use) would have to be used to protect against frost damage, and finally (but probably not the least reason) they cost money to install and maintain for what is a relatively rare event.
There might be better arguments for buildings with more normal height ceilings, including toilet blocks, to be fitted with sprinklers to prevent a fire spreading through such a building and to the rest of the station.

Smoke damaged buildings need deep and careful cleaning to remove the deposits, which can include some unpleasant and carcinogenic compounds, particularly if burning plastics were involved.

 

[waynemorrell]

Just heard on BBC Radio Nottingham, 4pm, fire still burning but some appliances have been released according to the Fire Brigade.

EMT hopes to open to some degree at some point tomorrow.

 

[kevjs]

Radio Nottingham are reporting that East Midlands Trains are expecting to resume services at some point tomorrow to some degree

 

[edwin_m]

The wooden bridge that runs across platforms 2 and 4 is still on fire

I don't think you mean 2 and 4, both of these are at the far east end and a long way from either bridge. There has certainly been fire on the bridge linking the main stairs and lifts particularly around platforms 6 and 7. This has timber walls and probably roof but a tiled floor and rests on steel girders above the track. If the supporting structure is affected then trains probably can't run, but hopefully it isn't as it's a non-flammable structure and the heat tends to go up rather than down.

<pedant>
Not much from Nottingham calls at Emerson Park.
You perhaps mean EMD
</pedant>

Not sure what the builder of the class 66s has to do with it either.

Presumably the short-term fix will be a temporary footbridge of some kind (not sure how disabled access will be resolved short-term, possibly free taxis to nearby stations on demand?) to some Portakabins in a suitable area e.g. car park?

They might reinstate the temporary ticket offices rather inconveniently placed to the north-east of the station site during the rebuilding, with access over the existing "middle" footbridge (actually somewhat west of the middle). But this would not be step-free. During the re-building they kept a narrow passage open through the main concourse to reach the lifts, officially only for those who couldn't manage the stairs, but at least two of the three platform lifts are in the fire-damaged area so will be inaccessible during any prolonged closure.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As mentioned above, in the short term they may I guess have to just provide free taxis to adjacent stations for those who cannot manage the stairs.

 

[kevjs]

I don't think you mean 2 and 4

2 and 4 are what have been said on the radio and Notts Fire reports all day. Wonder if they are using wrong terminology with each physical platform are being counted as 1 rather than the number of faces (2 or 3) - e.g. platform 2 is actually 2/3 and 4 is 7?

 

[yorksrob]

NET now running over the top of the station, but not stopping. Reporter on Radio Nottingham describing how the bulk of the damage is to the bridge between Platform 2 and 4 next to the main building and the new build stuff linking the station to the tram / car parks. Walking past the station (Station Street / Carrington Street) there was no visible damage to the central bridge or main concourse, what you could see of the main bridge was darker than usual (possibly because the lights were off) but otherwise intact
.

Well, that's certainly sounding more positive !

 

[howittpie]

They might reinstate the temporary ticket offices rather inconveniently placed to the north-east of the station site during the rebuilding, with access over the existing "middle" footbridge (actually somewhat west of the middle). But this would not be step-free. During the re-building they kept a narrow passage open through the main concourse to reach the lifts, officially only for those who couldn't manage the stairs, but at least two of the three platform lifts are in the fire-damaged area so will be inaccessible during any prolonged closure.

The temporary ticket office is now home to the National Express ticket office so they may not be able to.

 

[thenorthern]

Given that the station was recently rebuilt I think questions will be asked of how the fire managed to take hold so quickly and why there weren't things in place so that it could be contained much quicker.

 

[theageofthetra]

Being reported as arson.

 

[BestWestern]

Being reported as arson.

Very odd time to do that, would tend to link that sort of nonsense more with late night. And the ladies toilet wouldn't be top of the list of expected locations for it either. I do hope there's CCTV available, the circumstances are rather intriguing.

Stagecoach have advised they are running double deckers in place of the usual branded single deckers on their Mansfield route this evening to assist in getting commuters home. Presumably though a good number of them never got to work in the first place.

 

[Hophead]

According to the National Rail disruptions page, there is no ticket acceptance on local buses, which seems somewhat unhelpful. Is there a reason for this? Are Trent Barton unwilling to take displaced passengers?

Allowing people to make their own way over to Derby or other nearby stations must surely be helpful, and I'd have thought users of the Mansfield line have few other options.

 

[Red Dragon]

Being reported as arson.

Yes, generally now being reported that the incident is being treated as arson by the Police.

 

[OLJR]

I must travel from Newcastle to Nottingham tomorrow. It is extremely important so I will make the journey no matter what.

But I also have plenty of time. I am currently scheduled to travel via Newark on a 1ST Advance. If a replacement bus service from Newark is not available would my ticket be valid for Newcastle - King's Cross - St Pancras - East Midlands Parkway?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[thenorthern]

Someone from British Transport Police is on BBC Radio Nottingham at the moment, they are not giving anything away but they are implying they have significant information.

 

[DarloRich]

I must travel from Newcastle to Nottingham tomorrow. It is extremely important so I will make the journey no matter what.

But I also have plenty of time. I am currently scheduled to travel via Newark on a 1ST Advance. If a replacement bus service from Newark is not available would my ticket be valid for Newcastle - King's Cross - St Pancras - East Midlands Parkway?

Many thanks in advance.

no idea. Keep an eye on the EMT website. I am fairly certain a chat with the guard will sort out any issues mind!