For the record, I was born in Devon, of native UK parents (through several generations, on both sides) in 1959.



CfN. 

Fire destroys 140 cars at site used by Gatwick passengers


A fire service says about 140 vehicles were destroyed in a parking site used by Gatwick holidaymakers

Holidaymakers using Gatwick Airport are facing misery at the end of their travels after a fire at a car park used by people flying from the hub destroyed 140 vehicles.

The blaze at Caldyne Business Park near Crawley broke out shortly after 21:00 BST on Saturday, and images from the site show huge flames and massive plumes of smoke above rows of stationary cars.

A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson, and has been bailed pending further inquiries, Sussex Police said.

A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport, which does not own the site, said it "understands how concerning and distressing this will be" for passengers.

Sapphire Parking, whose site was involved in the blaze, said: "At the moment, it is a nightmare for everyone.  We lost a lot of business - we have had to cancel about 600 bookings.  I know that customers are calling and are distressed, but we can't do much at the moment."

The airport added that the site "is not endorsed or operated by London Gatwick".

More than 2,000 homes were also left without power on Saturday due to the blaze, but electricity has since been restored to those affected.


Firefighters tackled the blaze on Saturday morning - Image © Eddie Mitchell

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service advised people whose vehicles were damaged by the blaze to contact their parking operator directly.  A spokesperson said crews remained at the scene on Monday to damp down hotspots.  It added there were no casualties.  A total of eight fire engines and water carriers attended at the height of the blaze.

Following discussions between Wiltshire Council, GWR and Network Rail, AtkinsRealis has been commissioned to update the business case for Corsham’s proposed new railway station. This work will be completed by the end of November 2026.

The work will focus on updating existing evidence and improving the business case rather than redesigning the scheme. It includes:

Costs and Financial Assessment
A full update of the station’s capital cost estimates will be undertaken, using the same station design and scope that formed the basis of the 2022 submission.
Operational cost assumptions will be reviewed using comparisons with similar stations, including consideration of different staffing models and day-to-day operating costs.
The economic case will be strengthened through clearer benchmarking against comparable stations, particularly in relation to passenger demand and wider travel impacts. No new demand modelling is proposed.

Wider Benefits Assessment
The SOC will include an enhanced qualitative assessment of the station’s environmental and social benefits, identifying likely positive outcomes and areas for future detailed appraisal.
A more detailed assessment of wider economic benefits will be undertaken, considering potential impacts on investment, productivity and employment, with comparisons to similar schemes where relevant.

Timetable and Operational Feasibility
Additional consideration will be given to operational risks on the rail corridor and the implications of introducing a Corsham stop within an increasingly constrained timetable.
AtkinsRéalis will meet with Network Rail and GWR to discuss these risks.
Existing timetable analysis will be reviewed in light of current timetables and more recent studies, with any significant changes to previous conclusions recorded. No detailed timetable modelling is planned.

Funding and Development Support
The case will be updated to reflect discussions led by Wiltshire Council with potential third-party funders and clarify how external contributions could support delivery and operation of the station.
Further engagement with planning officers, developers and local stakeholders will be documented to demonstrate alignment with housing growth, regeneration and wider development objectives.

Stakeholder Support
The business case will be strengthened by incorporating evidence of support from key stakeholders, including relevant correspondence and endorsements.
 
Integration with Other Transport Modes
Greater emphasis will be placed on how the proposed station would connect with wider transport networks, including bus services, walking and cycling routes and links to surrounding communities.

Business Case and Carbon Updates
The case will be updated to reflect current Department for Transport business case guidance and policy requirements.
A high-level assessment of carbon impacts will be undertaken, alongside preparation of an outline Carbon Management Plan appropriate to this stage of development.
 
Overall, the work is designed to refresh and strengthen the existing Strategic Outline Case, improve its alignment with current guidance, provide up-to-date cost information, demonstrate wider benefits and reinforce the strategic and financial case for progressing the Corsham Station project to the next stage of development.

Why's that matter?

I have just received the latest Modern Railways. It includes a detailed article by Roger Ford about the "issues" with the Class 810s. It makes quite sobering reading (and I have only glanced so far). In this case maybe the RMT are fully justified in refusing to work them when certain types of faults exist (listed in article - some appear to be "quite" safety critical).

■ GSM-R communications
■ Doors interlock
■ Passenger communication systems
■ Fire detection systems
■ Public address and passenger information systems
■ CCTV recording
■ Train lighting Source: EMR instructions to staff

Rail companies sued for £5m over oil spill caused by derailment


Ten of the 25 wagons derailed as a result of of the incident

Network Rail is suing two rail companies for more than £5m after a fuel spill caused by a train derailment threatened an "environmental disaster" at a designated site for protection.

The body filed a legal claim earlier this month against DB Cargo UK and Touax Rail over the derailment near Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, in August 2020.

The incident saw 10 wagons of the 25-wagon train derail, causing 446,000 litres of fuel to spill, and about 300 people had to leave the area due to the blaze.

In High Court documents, Network Rail claimed that the derailment occurred because the wagon had "not been maintained with reasonable care" and is seeking damages for negligence.

No one was injured, but 116,000 litres of fuel ignited while 330,000 litres drained into surrounding wetlands, which form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) concluded in January 2022 that the derailment was caused by a set of wheels on one of the wagons locking, likely the result of a brake defect after "inadequate maintenance practices" were found in the investigation.

Network Rail, which owns, operates, maintains and develops Britain's railways, claimed that the derailment occurred because the wagon had "not been maintained with reasonable care" by Touax.  It is also seeking damages from DB Cargo UK, claiming that the latter "breached a contractual duty to ensure that reasonable care was taken" in maintaining the wagon.

Lawyers for the body said it expected to recover "more than £5m" with DB Cargo and Touax yet to file defences.  A hearing in the case is due to take place.

The locomotive was pulling the wagons from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, to Theale, near Reading, when the derailment occurred.

The line was closed for six months after the incident and did not fully reopen for almost a year, with 30,000 tonnes of fuel-soaked soil having to be excavated.

Bill Kelly, the then-Network Rail Wales route director, said when the line fully reopened in March 2021 that work following the incident was "one of the biggest environmental recovery operations Network Rail has ever been involved with".  He added that the derailment could have caused a "total environmental disaster".

The RAIB said, in its 2022 report, that the train was travelling at about 38mph at the time of the derailment, and was carrying up to 75.5 tonnes of fuel.  The RAIB did not establish blame or liability for the incident, but made nine recommendations to avoid similar accidents.

Network Rail and DB Cargo declined to comment, while Touax has been approached for comment.

The BBC reported on 24th August 2006 that the UK population had exceeded 60 million - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5281360.stm .  The report was from the Office Of National Statistics for the year ended 30th June 2005.

I have looked back - in 30 year increments

33,200,000   1876 (includes Ireland)
43,400,000   1906 (includes Ireland)
47,100,000   1936
54,600,000   1966 Railway modernisation as per the Beeching report
58,200,000   1996 Privatisation
70,000,000   2026 (guestimated as of 30th June)

At Sheffield Park on Saturday, I picked up an old timetable for British Rail's Western Region dated 1965, showing services on lines lost over following years.  Some were - dire - in their frequency, not fast, and looking at the "diagrams" there were a lot of trains busy doing nothing for hours on end.   I find myself wondering with a 28% increase in population since then, and modern environmental concerns at the inefficiency of modern cars for transporting people (not only fuel use, but congestion and the need for road and parking capacity) how different things might have been had the population been so much greater in those days.

Turning this article over in the back of my mind for a bit.

https://humantransit.org/2020/04/whats-wrong-with-an-empty-bus.html

What no one has considered is what they would have done in the case of an emergency - dealing with fatalities/derailment for example without a control would simply fall apart.

What no one has considered is what they would have done in the case of an emergency - dealing with fatalities/derailment for example without a control would simply fall apart.

15:14 Swindon - Westbury cancelled because of a safety inspection of the track earlier today

14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26

17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track earlier today.

I note that the Windsor venture involves a new-build amphibus, can't think why.

Mark

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.