Train fire at Craven Arms on the evening of 22/05/2022.

[SuperLuke2334]

I saw this on JourneyCheck this morning when I noticed the line was closed. Does anyone have any further details or discussion about this?

 

[L401CJF]

According to Wales Online the train struck an object.

Widespread railway disruption after reports of 'train fire'

Disruption is expected on services from Cardiff, Llanell Maesteg, Holyhead, Carmarthen, Milford Haven and Llanelli into Monday afternoon

www.walesonline.co.uk

A number of rail services in Wales face disruption into Monday afternoon after an incident involving a Transport for Wales (TFW) train on Sunday evening. A major road was also closed this morning - but has since reopened - because of the 'operational incident'. The incident - which was reported to be a fire on a train - occurred after the 20:43 Crewe to Cardiff Central service 'made contact with an object'.

Photos on other news sites show a small fire underneath a class 150. Cant find anymore details as of yet.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Reports I’ve heard suggest there was also a derailment.

 

[nedchester]

Realtime Trains | 1V78 2031 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central | 22/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 1V78 2031 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central on 22/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

150279/240 rumoured to have struck something and may have derailed.

 

[GB]

No derailment but train had struck two mini diggers that had been stolen and left on the line. Reports of fire is correct…couple of minor injuries.

 

[John Luxton]

That has scuppered the second day of my 4 in 8 Freedom of Wales Rover.

Unfortunately I had validated the ticket before I had found this out and I had bought a a ticket from Liverpool via Runcorn to Chester in advance! Thus was committed to travelling today.

Saturday's circular trip out via Marches and back by Central Wales was partially scuppered by Hereford signal box staffing issues! Today I had planned to do Chester Cardiff!

Looks like it's going to be Holyhead and Blaenau Ffestiniog!

 

[duncanp]

Transport for Wales say that it was a "police incident", but the article below from the BBC, with accompanying picture, confirms that it was a fire, which is thought to have started after the train hit an object on the track.

Nothing is mentioned about a derailment, and disruption is expected until the end of today.

Rail line shut after train hits mini digger near Craven Arms

Passengers are evacuated after a fire breaks out on the train near Craven Arms.

www.bbc.co.uk

Train evacuated after fire on board near Craven Arms​

About 60 people had to be evacuated from a train after a fire broke out on board.
Emergency services were called to the train near Craven Arms railway station in Shropshire at about 22:30 BST on Sunday.
British Transport Police said the fire is thought to have started after the train hit a large object on the track.
The line remains closed on Monday, causing disruption to services between Shrewsbury and Hereford.
Transport for Wales urged passengers to plan ahead, saying its services remain blocked between Shrewsbury and Newport, with disruption expected until the end of the day.
It said there was a limited number of replacement road transport and advised passengers to use alternative rail services between Cardiff and Shrewsbury via Birmingham New Street.
British Transport Police said passengers were safely evacuated and the fire extinguished.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, the police force added.

 

[LowLevel]

Sounds like the driver and guard worked well in a rather unpleasant incident.

 

[trainophile]

No doubt the police are involved because the "mini diggers" were stolen and placed on the line. TfW are having a run of rotten luck, hope it picks up soon.

 

[Anonymous10]

No derailment but train had struck two mini diggers that had been stolen and left on the line. Reports of fire is correct…couple of minor injuries.

very lucky it wasnt more major this is going to be problematic for tfw who are already short of rolling stock

 

[mr_moo]

Interesting.
This article says the A49 was closed, although I can't see why, other than perpahs to act as parking for emergency vehicles perhaps.

Train evacuated and services cancelled after crash at Craven Arms

A RAIL 'incident' closed the A49 overnight and will cause disruption for rail passengers throughout today.

www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk

A RAIL 'incident' closed the A49 overnight and will cause disruption for rail passengers throughout today.


A police spokesperson said officers were called to the aid of British Transport Police officers and the fire service at a rail incident in Craven Arms late last night (May 22).


A road closure was put in place on the A49 between the A489 near Strefford and the B4368 at Craven Arms while the incident was dealt with.
British Transport Police said officers were called to reports of a fire on a passenger train at just after 10.30pm yesterday.
The passengers were safely evacuated from the train and the fire put out.
"It is currently believed that the fire happened as a result of the train hitting a large object on the track. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing," the spokesperson said.
A fire service spokesperson said a Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crew from Leintwardine and the service drone from Wyre Forest fire station were called at 11.02pm to support Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service at Craven Arms.

The Leintwardine crew was released from the scene at 1.42am, and we are seeking further information from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Paramedics and the hazardous area response team were also sent to the scene, a spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed.
“West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10.44pm to reports of a train involved in a collision at Craven Arms Level Crossing on Long Lane," the spokesperson said.
"We sent several resources to the scene, including the hazardous area response team, four paramedic officers and one ambulance. Crews arrived at the scene to find all passengers were safely out of their carriages after the incident. We treated one patient, a man, for minor injuries and he was discharged at the scene.”
A Highways Agency spokesperson confirmed the A49 was reopened just after 3am this morning.

 

[keithboddey]

I have visited the site this morning.
I will post a video/Photos on YouTube shortly.

 

[Essan]

West Mercia police have this afternoon posted the following on social media - detailing what happened and contact details for anyone with any information

As per above comments - the fire was a result of the train colliding with a mini digger that have been stolen and deliberately left on the line. Lucky it wasn't a worse incident.

Our colleagues at British Transport Police have released the following update about the incident on the railway near Craven Arms...
-
Detectives from British Transport Police have launched a major investigation, following a train fire close to Craven Arms station, Shropshire, last night (22 May).
At just after 10.30pm officers were called to a report of a fire on board a passenger train near Craven Arms station, along with emergency service colleagues.
Approximately 60 passengers were safely evacuated from the train, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

One passenger sustained a minor ankle injury which thankfully didn’t require hospital treatment. Thankfully, nobody else was injured.
It’s believed that a Transport for Wales train travelling at around 60mph hit a mini digger on the tracks, which caused fuel to leak from the train and a fire to start.

There was a second mini digger found on the embankment and enquiries throughout the night and this morning have led detectives to believe these had been stolen from a nearby rental yard and discarded.

Detectives from BTP’s Major, Serious, and Organised Crime Unit will be leading the investigation, and specialist officers remain at the scene conducting enquiries this afternoon.

Network Rail is working to recover the railway as quickly as possible but it’s unlikely services will resume on the line before the end of the day. Passengers are advised to check with Transport for Wales before they travel tomorrow.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn, from BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “While we are at early stage of our investigation, we are confident this fire was a result of the attempted theft of two mini diggers which then ended up on the tracks.

“Any obstruction to the railway is extremely dangerous and can easily result in serious injuries or fatalities, so we are taking this incident very seriously and working hard to hold those responsible to account.

“In this case, the collision with the mini digger resulted in a fuel leak which has then ignited. We are working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the fuel is contained and any risk to the environment is minimised.”

“I would like to appeal to anyone who may have information to get in touch with us as soon as possible by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting

reference 665 of 22/05/22.”

 

[SuperLuke2334]

West Mercia police have this afternoon posted the following on social media - detailing what happened and contact details for anyone with any information

As per above comments - the fire was a result of the train colliding with a mini digger that have been stolen and deliberately left on the line. Lucky it wasn't a worse incident.

That is a terrible incident. Very very glad that everyone is safe and it wasn't a much worse incident.

 

[JN114]

Interesting.
This article says the A49 was closed, although I can't see why, other than perpahs to act as parking for emergency vehicles perhaps.

Due to the nature of the overall incident, there were multiple crime scenes involved; not all on the railway.

 

[mr_moo]

Due to the nature of the overall incident, there were multiple crime scenes involved; not all on the railway.

Ah, That's a fair point.

 

[John Luxton]

If they do catch them one hopes the sentence is severe. Watch many fly on the wall police documentaries and I am often appalled at just how lenient they are.

 

[mr_moo]

Agreed. I'm a good fan of police stuff too and I completelty agree with you. Let's hope some common sense prevails.

 

[keithboddey]

Here is the Videos and Photos I have taken

 

[L401CJF]

Here is the Videos and Photos I have taken

Thanks for sharing. Some quite bad looking fire damage shown there.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Curtains for the 150?

 

[mr_moo]

Wow - impressive and brilliantly done. Thank you for making and sharing this.

 

[Anonymous10]

Thanks for sharing. Some quite bad looking fire damage shown there.

i get the feeling the 2 class 153s that have been away at landore for months will now be pressed into service asap

 

[craigybagel]

Here is the Videos and Photos I have taken

I've seen a video showing the other side (the units have been moved to the up siding to clear the line) and it looks even worse. Hopefully it's just smoke damage but it is rather worrying. Last thing TfW need right now is to lose more units.

 

[Anonymous10]

I've seen a video showing the other side (the units have been moved to the up siding to clear the line) and it looks even worse. Hopefully it's just smoke damage but it is rather worrying. Last thing TfW need right now is to lose more units.

are the two tfw livery 150s fire damaged if not at least its one unit

 

[Crossover]

are the two tfw livery 150s fire damaged if not at least its one unit

It looks like the damage is to the front two units, one TfW branded and one in ATW turquoise

 

[swt_passenger]

This reminds me of a previous incident, (2009 near Cardiff), where thieves using quad bikes tried to make off down the railway. Noisy, hit by an ECS train from behind, 2 of 4 men killed.

It’s incredibly difficult for the railway to prevent the actions of determined idiots.

 

[DelW]

Thanks to Keith for the video evidence. It looks as though the best hope might be to make one repairable unit out of the less-damaged coaches of the front two units. At least then TfW would only be one unit down not two. It may depend on whether the fires weakened the structural integrity of the bodies though.
It's to be hoped that the despicable lowlifes who were willing to endanger innocent people's lives in pursuit of their criminality are caught and suitably punished.

 

[fflint]

Thank you for your video Keith, it gives a good account of the accident. As others have said it could have been much, much worse.
It's a pity that the b***tards weren't driving them when the train hit - it would save us some money for the trial and sentencing wouldn't come into it.

 

[skyhigh]

Curtains for the 150?

I'd be fairly surprised if it was. The 144 that caught fire at Smithy Bridge and had a hole cut in the floor was repaired. I suspect a lot of what looks bad up the side of the train is just smoke damage and will clean off without much difficulty- depends how it looks underneath as to how bad the damage actually is.