Security alert at Basingstoke today

[fandroid]

I've heard from a friend that she couldn't get close to Basingstoke station this morning and had to abort a trip to London. Online sites say that the whole area of the station and Alencon Link in front of it are closed to everyone including buses. I went through at 08.49. Platform 4, and I'd guess platform 5, were closed but my Xcountry train was diverted into platform 3. Anyone know more details, or general impact on services?

 

[GreatWesterner]

Suspicious package found at the station. Station closed around 0815 and opened again around 1000. Package was deemed non-suspicious.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I once absent-mindedly left my briefcase in the staff canteen at Paddington station when I went off the buy an Evening Standard. Within minutes the whole area was evacuated and many of my colleagues had to leave their lunches uneaten. A simple mistake but I've never been more embarrassed!

 

[Cymroglan]

I ended up stranded in Weymouth for a time today as a knock on from the Basingstoke incident. My reward was a non stop run to Bournemouth which I thoroughly enjoyed! Took 41 minutes.

 

[fandroid]

I once left a rucksac on the platform at Basingstoke just two weeks after the failed second terrorist bombing attempt after 7/7. I realised once on the Waterloo train, and was terrified at the thought of having closed down the whole SW mainline. I rushed to lost property at Waterloo and they enquired, and the rucksac had been picked up and no-one had turned a hair!

 

[pompeyfan]

My understanding is that it was an item designed to cause distress placed onto a train, once BTP attended they then requested specialist officers who then deemed it a hoax.

 

[AlterEgo]

My understanding is that it was an item designed to cause distress placed onto a train, once BTP attended they then requested specialist officers who then deemed it a hoax.

Cause distress in what way? By just looking like a bomb?

 

[E16 Cyclist]

Cause distress in what way? By just looking like a bomb?

A package addressed to the prime minister containing a child’s toy with bomb written on it

Almost sounds like a test device but obviously wasn’t

 

[Wychwood93]

A package addressed to the prime minister containing a child’s toy with bomb written on it

Almost sounds like a test device but obviously wasn’t

Hmmm.... something like 'Trigger point' in that case. Excellent series if you like that sort of thing, which we do here at 'Wychwood'. To skip back to #fandroid and the initial post - I was on the same train. A tannoy message re. station evacuation and a couple of staff on platform 3 dealing with stragglers. I was back in Reading around 13.00 and the 13.07 to Basingstoke was cancelled - the same showing for the 13.32, which was then reinstated, over the station tannoy around 13.10 ish. The guard was in his mess-room and the screens were, like those on the station, showing it was indeed cancelled. They had to call him to find out where he was - we were 10 late away as a result and he came through the train to apologise and gave the aforementioned explanation. Very good of him and much appreciated.