Great Western Coffee Shop

Severe delays for services through Chippenham this evening after at least two lineside fires between there and Wootton Bassett Junction.

Several down services to Bristol diverted via Hullavington.  At least one eastbound train sent back to Bath Spa and up the Berks & Hants.

TransWilts services also affected.

 

FGW are saying it could be a freight train that caused them. (Twitter)

Not a WCRC Steamer.

For the record, "affected" translates into "cancelled" for at least 2 services ... nothing (Melksham times) from 16:31 to 19:21.  / 18:03 and 18:48 both gone.   The 20:38 is doubtful - shown as running on Real Time Trains but cancelled on Journeycheck.

If the fire had been in South Wales it would probably have been kids lighting it for kicks.   Hundreds since the warm dry spell started with Fire Brigades stretched to the absolute limit..

I was caught up in this. I had planned on catching the 1736 from Swindon to Westbury (I'd've done a count grahame  ;)).

It became apparent fairly quickly after I arrived at Swindon Station at 1715 that nothing was going to head to Chippenham. The 1657 to Bristol Temple Meads (1600 from Paddington) was being held at the station and while I pondered what to do, whilst stood near the Customer Service desk on the up side, I overheard a radio message that said the 1657 was going to Bristol TM via Bristol Parkway.

I decided to bin the idea of going to Westbury (then home later) and head home to Bristol instead.

The following down service to Taunton (1630 from Paddington) was also diverted via Bristol Parkway and dispite being held up outside Swindon was only running 10 minutes late after its diversion.

At Swindon, Bath Spa bound passengers were being advised to travel on the diverted services to Bristol TM and pick up connections there. Chippenham passengers were the real losers (as well as those for Melksham of course!) - it was hanging around for replacement road transport for them.

There were, from what I can gather, numerous small lineside fires. Could a passing freight train have been the culprit (hot box?). There was one in the area at the time. There was also mention that one of the fire locations was near to a traveller camp beside the railway.

That's what I've gleaned from various sources and I'm not pointing the finger or speculating further.

A freight train was stopped with dragging brakes.  Smoke was reported by station staff coming from a wagon so it's possible that was the culprit.

One of the fires was apparently at a travellers site!

I would have thought it would have to have been a very hot box to set lineside vegitation alight.