Kenilworth train blaze causes major disruption for railway passengers

[dutchman]

The fire was on a test service for Vivarail and saw 10 people evacuated



A train has caught fire at Kenilworth railway station and is causing problems for passengers up and down the country.

There are delays on the Manchester-Bournemouth line with CrossCountry services currently not calling at Coventry or Birmingham International.

The three-carriage train burst in to flames at about 1.10pm and is a Vivarail test service currently being re-purposed for use on the railway line.

A deal was struck back in July for former London Underground tube trains to be used on the Coventry-Nuneaton line, including past the Ricoh Arena.

Vivarail says this means the planned trial will now be postponed.

A statement from Vivarail said: “Whilst undertaking a test run today a fire started in one of the detachable engine modules on one of the power cars.

“There were no passengers on the train and Vivarail staff were able to get off the train without a problem.

“This has now been extinguished by the fire service and the train is being prepared to move back to Tyseley.

“Until it is possible to access the engine module the cause of the fire can not be determined.”

They stated that a thorough investigation will take place alongside the Railway Accident Investigation Bureau.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Fire Service said that crews from Kenilworth and Leamington were sent to the scene.

They added: “This is a fire involving a train consisting of three carriages. The engine is well alight at front of the train. Ten persons have been evacuated from carriages.

“Fire crews are using hose reels, jets and hydraulic cutting equipment to deal with this fire.”

[rebbonk]

...former London Underground tube trains to be used on the Coventry-Nuneaton line, including past the Ricoh Arena.

Back to the drawing board?

[Melisandre]

Bit early for the Chinese New Year of the Fire Rooster it is nt till 28th January so I take this as a warning of things to come this year" fire".

[dutchman]

Coventry to Nuneaton trial scrapped after test train fire

A trial to see whether former London Underground trains could increase capacity on a railway line has been scrapped after a fire on a test train.

An engine on the test train caught fire in December at Kenilworth.

The West Midlands Combined Authority said there "was no longer enough time" to evaluate the trial before the next local rail franchise starts in October.

It was hoped the trains would have eventually been used on the Coventry to Nuneaton line.

The authority will continue discussions with operators Vivarail and other train suppliers.

A spokesman for the authority and its partners, which include Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, said future opportunities would be discussed "for this line and other routes in the region where the shortage of available rolling stock is impacting on capacity and service operation".