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Journey by Journey => Wales local journeys => Topic started by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 05:16:45



Title: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 05:16:45
From Evening Standard (https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/major-incident-as-train-catches-fire-in-south-wales-a4534101.html)

Quote
Homes have been evacuated in south Wales after a large diesel train caught fire

British Transport Police said crews were dealing with the blaze in Llangennech, near Llanelli, in the early hours of Thursday.

Gary Jones, a county councillor in Carmarthenshire, posted on Facebook saying "A major incident on the railway line has been declared."

British Transport Police said: "Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident on the railway near Llangennech, Wales.

Llangennech is on the Swansea District Line and the Heart of Wales line - 2 stations north of Llanelli, and not on the main line from Swansea itself to Llanelli, Carmarthen and West Wales.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 05:25:24
Press Release from Dyfed Powys Police (https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/newsroom/press-releases/major-incident-declared-as-emergency-services-respond-to-diesel-train-fire/)

Quote
27 Aug 2020

Emergency services are currently dealing with a train fire in Llangennech.

The incident was reported at just before 11.20pm on Wednesday, August 26, when three carriages of a diesel train were alight.

Dyfed-Powys Police, British Transport Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance, with support from Carmarthenshire Council and Natural Resources Wales.

An evacuation zone has been put in place, with police contacting residents in this area and asking them to convene at Bryn School and Llangennech Community Centre.

Road closures are in place. People are asked to avoid the Llangennech and Hendy areas, and vehicles on the M4 are being asked to continue to Pont Abraham.

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Ross Evans said: “This is a fast-moving situation, which has been declared a major incident.

“There are a significant number of emergency services personnel at the scene, and an evacuation zone has been put in place.

“Officers are in contact with people within that area asking them to leave their homes, and we urge people to comply with officers’ requests to ensure a swift and efficient evacuation.

“We are working closely with our colleagues at British Transport Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Carmarthenshire Council, and Natural Resources Wales to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 06:09:14
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/breaking-huge-train-fire-wales-22584624

Quote
Many nearby residents took to social media to report the mammoth blaze.

One Twitter user wrote: "Looks like the Murco oil train is on fire near Llangennech. Huge flames, area being evacuated."

Another tweeted: "It looks like a train on fire. Definitely fuel burning earlier - could smell it from well over a mile away."


Llangennech County Councillor Gary Jones confirmed to Llanelli Online there had been a "terrible accident" involving a cargo train.

Train services between Carmarthenshire and North Wales as well as Manchester Piccadilly have been affected by the fire.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Twitter reports of "20 carriages" and "huge fire" early doors, lots of pictures of huge flames in the distance on Twitter. No reports of any casualties / people involved.  BBC report at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-53927802 .


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 07:42:19
No reports of any casualties / people involved.  BBC report at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-53927802 .

BBC report updated:

Quote
Two workers on the train are accounted for and no injuries have been reported, British Transport Police said.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: TonyK on August 27, 2020, 09:59:03
Looks like this one:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50274178111_3140aa6253_b.jpg)


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: bradshaw on August 27, 2020, 11:55:32
Accident at Morlais Jn, photo on Twitter , taken from Llangennech Station

https://twitter.com/russmyners/status/1298891881280163840?s=21,

retweeted by Philip Haigh


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: TonyK on August 27, 2020, 14:45:08
The photo from that tweet:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgaWo7VXsAEifaI?format=jpg&name=large)


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 14:45:50
From the British Transport Police via https://twitter.com/BTP/status/1298975399704227841

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Update into Llangennech train fire - Wales

Superintendent Andy Morgan said: “Overnight, officers from British Transport Police, Dyfed-Powys Police, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, ambulance service and Carmarthenshire County Council dealt with a major incident on the railway line near Llangennech.

We have launched an investigation and will be assisting the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the exact circumstances behind the incident.

What we know is a freight train, carrying large amounts of diesel oil, caught fire and a number of its wagons also derailed. Thankfully, despite the clear danger, no injuries have been reported. The two members of railway staff operating the train were able raise the alarm and uncouple the locomotive and move it to a safe space.  

The fire was significant due to the quantity of fuel it was carrying and presented a possible danger to the wider community.

As a precaution, roads were shut, and Dyfed-Powys Police evacuated a large number of homes within a radius of the fire.

I believe around 300 people were affected and I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and quick action in what must have been a frightening time.

At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown and, while the fire continues, there is still a substantial risk within its immediate vicinity, so our advice remains for people to avoid the area.

Our officers are conducting initial enquiries and are in the process of collecting key witness statements and CCTV. Once the fire is extinguished, and the scene is safe to assess and investigate, they’ll be assisting the ORR and RAIB further at the scene.

This was and remains a very challenging incident. I’d like to thank all of our partners for their ongoing support and work to ensure the safety of the surrounding community.”


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Rob on the hill on August 27, 2020, 15:57:07
Aerial footage of the scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE13pbeW0Kg


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: stuving on August 27, 2020, 16:00:42
That overhead video shows just how big a crash it was - not "just" a derailment.

I reckon you can guess pretty much what happened - give or take some details of the sequence, where a lot was happening in a short time. The loco, and probably a wagon and a half, took the curve round to the right. The rest went straight on, until the angle of pull on the third wagon (the red one) pulled it off the track and onto its side. At the same time, the sharp deceleration due to running derailed led to the back of the train overrunning, with a concertina as wagons went off to the side, and number four was pulled over too. Several couplings broke, which allowed the loco and first two wagons to escape. Dragging wagons along and across the track caused enough heat and sparks to ignite the fuel cargo from at least one, and several others split open.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: welshman on August 27, 2020, 18:41:02

The double track line curving round to the right is the Swansea & District Line.

The location is Morlais Junction.  The single track straight ahead is effectively the start of the Heart of Wales line towards Pontarddulais.  The line was already out of commission at the other end because of flood damage at Llangynllo near Knighton so it's bustitute time for a good few weeks.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: TonyK on August 27, 2020, 18:58:10
Aerial footage of the scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE13pbeW0Kg

Crikey!


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: JayMac on August 27, 2020, 19:50:32
I really hope this isn't another incident related to rainfall and earthworks, although I suspect the crossover will be the main focus.

Lucky for the Fire Service too that there has been heavy rain and that they have a plentiful water supply form the adjacent ponds.

Run off looks likely to major cause for concern.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Electric train on August 27, 2020, 20:04:54
That overhead video shows just how big a crash it was - not "just" a derailment.

I reckon you can guess pretty much what happened - give or take some details of the sequence, where a lot was happening in a short time. The loco, and probably a wagon and a half, took the curve round to the right. The rest went straight on, until the angle of pull on the third wagon (the red one) pulled it off the track and onto its side. At the same time, the sharp deceleration due to running derailed led to the back of the train overrunning, with a concertina as wagons went off to the side, and number four was pulled over too. Several couplings broke, which allowed the loco and first two wagons to escape. Dragging wagons along and across the track caused enough heat and sparks to ignite the fuel cargo from at least one, and several others split open.


Hot box? ............. although track condition / defect cannot be ruled out


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 27, 2020, 20:34:16
Could be one of quite a number of things;  we should wait and see, and it may be one of those which surprises us.   But - what - a - mess.  Bad enough to be flammable; thank goodness it was not a passenger train.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: JayMac on August 27, 2020, 20:39:47
And thank goodness there wasn't another train in section on the opposite line.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: bobm on August 27, 2020, 23:05:18
...or that one passed the stricken train.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: bradshaw on August 28, 2020, 09:43:01
Diesel oil does not burn readily, its flash point is over 100 degrees Celsius. There must have been some source of heat to ignite it, not just a spark.
When teaching I used to dip a lighted match into a bowl of diesel and it would go out. Whereas if you brought a flame close to alcohol it would ignite before reaching the liquid as it was the vapour above the liquid which burns.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Gordon the Blue Engine on August 28, 2020, 11:25:19
As 66 004 in the photo seems to be on the wrong end of the train or on the wrong line, I presume it was sent up after the incident to rescue the undamaged wagons at the rear of the train.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: southwest on August 28, 2020, 13:41:23
Two big derailments in one month is not good, lucky the train services are reduced.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: broadgage on August 28, 2020, 13:50:52
Diesel oil does not burn readily, its flash point is over 100 degrees Celsius. There must have been some source of heat to ignite it, not just a spark.
When teaching I used to dip a lighted match into a bowl of diesel and it would go out. Whereas if you brought a flame close to alcohol it would ignite before reaching the liquid as it was the vapour above the liquid which burns.

Indeed, diesel fuel wont normally ignite from a spark, unless heated as well. The most likely source of ignition in this accident would be a derailed vehicle scraping along the rails or on the ballast, this  would produce frictional heating and sparks. A small amount of spilled fuel could be heated above the flashpoint and ignited by sparks.
Other sources of ignition could include damaged electric cables near the track, or the brakes on a wagon.

Diesel fuel is hard to ignite, but once ignited it burns fiercely like petrol.
After accidents of this nature, a risk is intact tanks being heated by fire and then bursting or leaking and making the fire worse.
The fire brigade are well aware of this, and give a high priority to directing water onto undamaged tanks to cool them.
This may be seen in views of the scene.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 28, 2020, 14:16:22
Two big derailments in one month is not good, lucky the train services are reduced.

The RAIB and follow ups by Network Rail have given us some clue as to what went wrong at Stonehaven, but not such indications yet for Llangennech and I would not like to bet either way as to whether there are significant similar factors, marginal similarities or the events are independent.

The Poisson distribution with a very low lambda value suggests that even if events are very rare, they will sometimes happen twice in the measured time value.  Takings Deaths by horsekick in the Prussian army (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.13261) as an example, you have something that is fairly rare, but will (sadly) sometimes happen twice in a month. But the crucial thing for Poisson is for the events to be independent.    If you try and use it (for example) to predict orders for your chippy, you'll find the resultant curve from the predictive model is different to what actually happens because "fish on Friday" is a tradition based on religious history and probably bolstered these days by Mum not wanting to cook at the end of a had week, so the events are not independent.

We await causal data for Llangennech and detail for Stonehaven and until we have it, we don't know if we have association or co-incidence.   But in both cases, RAIB should help us learn
* What went wrong
* How to avoid things going wrong in this way
* How to mitigate the effects if something does go wrong:
 - spotting it before it causes an accident
 - minimise the effect of an accident

It was indeed fortunate in both cases that only a single train was involved - not sure that any current reductions actually made a difference;  at Stonehaven, the train was on its way out of a problem area and nothing else would have been sent it.    And the Swansea District line and Heart of Wales are not exactly bustling at midnight!


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 30, 2020, 18:40:25
From British Transport Police (https://media.btp.police.uk/r/17342/update__llangennech_train_fire__not_believed_to_h)

Quote
Update at 5pm on Sunday 30 August:
 
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Langley from British Transport Police said: “Thanks to the efforts of our officers and our colleagues from across the emergency services in making the scene safe at Llangennech, we have been able to conduct an initial investigation into this incident.

Our initial findings are that the derailment is not believed to have been caused by criminal activity. 
 
“We are therefore handing primacy of the scene to the Office of Rail and Road so that it can carry out its own specialist investigation. 

“I would like to once again thank our officers for their efforts during this challenging incident, and I am grateful to all of our partners for their help and support in ensuring the safety of the local community.”

The question "was this due to criminal activity" needed to be asked, and asked early, but these initial findings are not a surprise.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: broadgage on August 30, 2020, 22:26:58
I must admit that the possibility of "criminal activity" had crossed my mind, and I am glad to hear that this has been ruled out.
Had the train been conveying aggregates or most other goods the possibility would probably not have occurred to me, but an oil cargo is higher risk IMO.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on August 31, 2020, 07:32:10
I must admit that the possibility of "criminal activity" had crossed my mind, and I am glad to hear that this has been ruled out.
Had the train been conveying aggregates or most other goods the possibility would probably not have occurred to me, but an oil cargo is higher risk IMO.

"Criminal Activity" covers a multitude of sins (literally).   I would agree that the extreme of an attack with terrorist elements (attempts to terrorise or fighten) would be that much more likely on a fuel train than an aggregate one (but I can think of types of train more at risk, but more protected at their yards and depots.   But criminal activities also includes the "yob" elements - the dumping of a shopping trolley on the track which could (until the BTP excluded it) have been smashed when the locomotive hit it, and thrown up a metal shard which wedged a wheel set a couple of wagons down; such would likely be a concern irrespective of the type of train.   It could also be ... but, no, I won't go  on listing things in public ...


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Worcester_Passenger on August 31, 2020, 10:08:06
I went back and read the report on the Summit Tunnel fire (at https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Summit1984.pdf (https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Summit1984.pdf)).

Noticeable that paragraph 33 has

"One of the theories suggested in the early stages after the incident was that material had fallen or had been dropped down one of the ventilation shafts to cause the derailment. ... There was no evidence after the fire that any of the ventilation shafts had been tampered with."

Understandable, given that this was back in 1984, with the IRA very active.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: ellendune on August 31, 2020, 12:16:31
I went back and read the report on the Summit Tunnel fire (at https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Summit1984.pdf (https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Summit1984.pdf)).

Noticeable that paragraph 33 has

"One of the theories suggested in the early stages after the incident was that material had fallen or had been dropped down one of the ventilation shafts to cause the derailment. ... There was no evidence after the fire that any of the ventilation shafts had been tampered with."

Understandable, given that this was back in 1984, with the IRA very active.

Gosh that takes me back.  I was called out for that incident as the local council drainage engineer. They were reports of oil vapour getting into properties from the drainage. It was the day of our office Christmas lunch and I was the first one back in the office so I got sent out there (it was my patch as well).  The Transpennine road was closed (the only time I have had to talk my way through a police road block).

You could see flames going hundred's of feet up from the ventilation shafts on the hillside. The tunnels spanned two counties so we had GM fire service and police, at our end and West Yorks were at the other end. There was also BTP and the Railway fire service. 

At the first meeting I attended, they had started talking about whether they needed to start evacuating people from Summit village and the social services rep had just said the Town Clerk was going to attend the next meeting so I decided I need more backup. I remember being singularly unimpressed that the rep from ICI whose oil was in the train couldn't tell us what the cargo was (I simply wanted to know were we talking lighter than or heavier than air). The Accident report just mentions it was petrol and that there were hazchem signs on the wagons, but we did not know that then and the Hazchem signs were in the tunnel and no one, not even the fire service was going there for several days.

This was before mobile phones were widely available and,  radio reception as also poor. The GM fire service had managed to get BT to rig up a single phone.  But in the end we went to a local business and asked to use their phone to call for backup (I needed a DLO gang and once it was mentioned that the Town Clerk was planning to attend the Assistant Borough Engineer decided he had better come too). I also wanted the office to get a message to my wife to say I was not going to be able to meet her in Sainsburys as planned.   

Once we had a gang we went out looking for where the tunnel drainage went. We didn't know whether it went into our sewer or into the river. We found the that the river had a thick layer of oil on it and we realised eventually that there was an overflow pipe from the sewer nearby. The vapour must have been going up that pipe. One of the gang waded across the river and put a bung in the outfall.  It dawned on me years later that we probably should have got the fire service to do that as there was a risk that the petrol on the surface could catch fire!  The gang then removed all the manhole covers down the road to vent the system (no traffic as the road was closed) and we were able to leave. I got home just in time to see it on the channel 4 news. 


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Southernman on August 31, 2020, 18:44:15
As 66 004 in the photo seems to be on the wrong end of the train or on the wrong line, I presume it was sent up after the incident to rescue the undamaged wagons at the rear of the train.

The Class 66 was used to move the undamaged wagons from the rear of the train (as you suggest). The train engine was a Class 60 which I believe was used to move the few undamaged wagons from the front. Brave driver to uncouple as well as carry out all the protection duties required.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: bobm on August 31, 2020, 19:17:33
Apparently the fire service were briefed on site about how to couple and uncouple the wagons which I thought was unusual.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: stuving on August 31, 2020, 19:58:44
As 66 004 in the photo seems to be on the wrong end of the train or on the wrong line, I presume it was sent up after the incident to rescue the undamaged wagons at the rear of the train.

The Class 66 was used to move the undamaged wagons from the rear of the train (as you suggest). The train engine was a Class 60 which I believe was used to move the few undamaged wagons from the front. Brave driver to uncouple as well as carry out all the protection duties required.

We didn't get the RAIB summary (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derailment-and-fire-involving-a-tanker-train-at-llangennech) before, so here it is:
Quote
Published 28 August 2020
Last updated 28 August 2020 — see all updates

At about 23:15 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs freight service from Robeston to Theale, conveying 25 tank wagons, each containing up to 75.5 tonnes of diesel or gas oil, derailed on the ‘Up District’ line near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the subsequent damage to the wagons resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire. The driver, who was unhurt, reported the accident to the signaller. Subsequent examination of the site revealed that a total of 10 wagons (positioned 3rd to 12th in the train) had derailed.

The fire was tackled by the fire service, who ordered the evacuation of local residents due to concerns for their safety. Local people have reported seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel. Our investigation will seek to identify the causes of the derailment, and how these led to the fire. It will also consider any underlying management factors.

If you read that carefully, and count wagons while looking at the aerial video, that confirms what was said elsewhere before: the loco and first two wagons split from the train during the accident and ran on until the brakes stopped them. The crew uncoupled from those and took the loco away - perhaps not being sure whether they were damaged, or just preferring not to go back to seal the brakes but to just get the hell out of there.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: TonyK on August 31, 2020, 21:11:56

"Criminal Activity" covers a multitude of sins (literally).   I would agree that the extreme of an attack with terrorist elements (attempts to terrorise or fighten) would be that much more likely on a fuel train than an aggregate one (but I can think of types of train more at risk, but more protected at their yards and depots.   But criminal activities also includes the "yob" elements - the dumping of a shopping trolley on the track which could (until the BTP excluded it) have been smashed when the locomotive hit it, and thrown up a metal shard which wedged a wheel set a couple of wagons down; such would likely be a concern irrespective of the type of train.   It could also be ... but, no, I won't go  on listing things in public ...

It could have been criminal negligence by NR or a contractor too, so I am assuming that has been ruled out.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: Electric train on September 01, 2020, 07:01:09

"Criminal Activity" covers a multitude of sins (literally).   I would agree that the extreme of an attack with terrorist elements (attempts to terrorise or fighten) would be that much more likely on a fuel train than an aggregate one (but I can think of types of train more at risk, but more protected at their yards and depots.   But criminal activities also includes the "yob" elements - the dumping of a shopping trolley on the track which could (until the BTP excluded it) have been smashed when the locomotive hit it, and thrown up a metal shard which wedged a wheel set a couple of wagons down; such would likely be a concern irrespective of the type of train.   It could also be ... but, no, I won't go  on listing things in public ...

It could have been criminal negligence by NR or a contractor too, so I am assuming that has been ruled out.

BTP will maintain close links with the ORR during the investigation

Negligence is investigated by the ORR, who are PACE trained, have powers under the H&S at Work Act etc to bring prosecutions through the CPS.  If it was Gross Negligence on the part of an individual(s) the ORR would then bring BTP back into the investigation, any prosecution taken forward by either the ORR and or BTP would be the one(s) which the CPS meet the public interest and stand the strongest chance of success.

BTP will maintain close links with the ORR during the investigation

   


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on September 21, 2020, 15:54:00
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derailment-and-fire-involving-a-tanker-train-at-llangennech-updated-21092020

Quote
Derailment and fire involving a tanker train at Llangennech - updated 21/09/2020

Investigation into the derailment and fire involving a tanker train at Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, 26 August 2020.

At about 23:15 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs freight service from Robeston (Milford Haven) to Theale, conveying 25 tank wagons, each containing up to 75.5 tonnes of diesel or gas oil, derailed on the ?Up District? line near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the subsequent damage to the wagons resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire. The driver, who was unhurt, reported the accident to the signaller. Subsequent examination of the site revealed that a total of 10 wagons (positioned 3rd to 12th in the train) had derailed, and that around 330,000 litres of fuel had been spilt.

The fire was tackled by the fire service, who ordered the evacuation of local residents due to concerns for their safety. Local people have reported seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel.

RAIB?s preliminary examination found that, although all the wheels of the train were probably rotating freely when the train left Robeston, at some point during the journey the brakes on all wheels of the third wagon of the train had become applied, and remained so until the derailment. While three of the four axles of this wagon continued to turn, although their brakes were dragging, the leading axle ceased to rotate altogether, and consequently a flat spot around 230 mm long developed on each of the wheels on this axle. There was a substantial ?false flange? (a raised lip on the outer side of the wheel tread) associated with these flat spots.

When the train reached the crossover at Morlais Junction, travelling at about 30 mph (48 km/h), the false flange on the right-hand wheel caught on the converging stock rail and distorted the track, leading to derailment of both wheels. Around one hundred metres further on, the partly derailed wagon encountered facing points set to route the train to the right. The locomotive and the two leading wagons went to the right and the derailed third wagon went straight ahead. The third wagon turned over onto its right-hand side and became detached from the wagon in front of it. This caused the points and the track beyond them to be destroyed, and derailment of another nine wagons followed.

The train brakes came on when the brake pipes between the wagons parted in the derailment. The locomotive and the first two wagons came to a stop about 180 metres away from the third wagon. The train driver looked back and saw that a fire had started in the wreckage. He uncoupled the locomotive from the first wagon and drove it around 400 metres away from the train.

Our investigation will identify the sequence of events and consider:

why the brakes on the third wagon became and remained applied
whether any other factors contributed to the derailment
how the derailment led to the fuel spillage and fire
the maintenance history of the third wagon
any underlying factors


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on November 06, 2020, 08:59:54
Urgent Safety Advice has been issued ((here)) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/urgent-safety-advice-022020-maintenance-arrangements-for-wagons-that-primarily-carry-dangerous-goods/urgent-safety-advice-022020-maintenance-arrangements-for-wagons-that-primarily-carry-dangerous-goods) by the DfT ...

Quote
1. Safety issue

Suitable processes, facilities, tools and equipment may not be in place to prevent safety critical system components becoming unsafe due to insecure fastenings.

A long piece ... and reference back to the accident in August ...

Quote
Examination of the brake group on the third wagon (TEA wagon GERS89005) found that the relay valve was loose on the pipe bracket. A sealing ring from one of the ports in the mating face had migrated to a position where it lodged between two other ports, distorted the sealing rings of those ports, and probably created a route for air to pass directly from the auxiliary reservoir to the wagon brake cylinder. This would have had the effect of applying the brakes on the wagon, producing the result described above.

The ECM for the wagon was unable to identify with any degree of certainty where and when the fastenings of the relay valve had last been disturbed. However, this may have taken place during routine repairs in the sidings at Robeston terminal or during scheduled maintenance elsewhere. There was no record of any check on the tightness of the fastenings ever having been made, and no process requiring such checks or provision of any measures, such as witness markings, which would have indicated that fastenings were becoming loose.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on December 16, 2020, 08:21:53
From Ground Engineering (https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/remediation-work-started-for-llangennech-fuel-spill-site-16-12-2020/)

Quote
Three months on from the Llangennech freight train fire, remediation work to remove and replace 12,000m3 of diesel contaminated soil around the site has begun.

[snip - technical details]

Network Rail Wales route director Bill Kelly said: "We understand that the temporary closure of the railway line in Llangennech is a big inconvenience for local businesses, public travel and tourism but our teams are working extremely hard to get the line back up and running as soon as possible."


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on January 24, 2021, 06:24:45
Update - from TfW's Journeycheck - "disruption" expected until March.   For members who do not speak Welsh, "disruption" translates to "no trains at all" in English  :D :D

Quote
Due to urgent repairs to the track between Llanelli and Llanwrtyd the single line line is closed.

Impact

Train services running through these stations will be cancelled or suspended between Swansea and Llanwrtyd. All stations between Swansea and Llanwrtyd will not be served. Disruption is expected until 23:59 05/03.

Customer Advice

Due to the major incident on 26 August 2020 (involving a derailed freight train and subsequent fire) at Llangennech, Heart of Wales train services remain unable to run between Swansea/Llanelli and Llandrindod. [etc]


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on February 01, 2021, 19:22:24
From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55893267)

Quote
Llangennech oil spill: Clean-up is 'biggest challenge since the Sea Empress'

The ongoing clean-up of a diesel spill after a train derailment has been called "the most challenging recovery operation" in 25 years.

A freight train pulling 25 wagons, each containing up to 100,000 litres of diesel, derailed and spilled into the Loughor Estuary at Llangennech, near Llanelli, in August.

Natural Resources Wales compared it to the Sea Empress disaster in 1996.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the derailment.

In the past two months, around 30,000 tonnes of contaminated soil has been removed from the site.

Incident recovery manager Stuart Thomas, of Natural Resources Wales, said: "This is the most challenging recovery operation we've seen since Pembrokeshire's Sea Empress disaster 25 years ago".


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on May 17, 2021, 14:53:32
From Iowa - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-57145192 - what looks like a similarly dire accident in terms of destruction, and perhaps pollution too.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: stuving on January 13, 2022, 18:44:56
RAIB have released their final report into this accident (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045465/R012022_220113_Llangennech.pdf).

It is long and detailed, starting with a nuts and bolts (and washers and O-rings) description of how the brakes on one wagon came on and one wheelset seized and then derailed. Tracing who did - or rather didn't - do what to maintain the wagon in a safe state occupies much of the rest of it.

Hard to summarise, but this is one of many places in the railways (or other places) that workers doing little-regarded jobs like maintaining goods wagons need to get it right or stuff like this happens. And that comes down to management, inspection, rules and regulation, certification, and all that. No-one involved in that comes out looking good, not even ORR.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: grahame on January 13, 2022, 19:14:11
RAIB have released their final report into this accident (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045465/R012022_220113_Llangennech.pdf).

It is long and detailed, ...

90 pages, and 9 recommendations - hard work and complex stuff. I have added a copy to the "deep search" mirror so the report'll be suggested if members look for a term like "false flange" ...


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: GBM on January 14, 2022, 08:51:32
RAIB have released their final report into this accident (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045465/R012022_220113_Llangennech.pdf).
.......
Hard to summarise, but this is one of many places in the railways (or other places) that workers doing little-regarded jobs like maintaining goods wagons need to get it right or stuff like this happens. And that comes down to management, inspection, rules and regulation, certification, and all that. No-one involved in that comes out looking good, not even ORR.

I noticed they seemed to have given the driver a grilling, but he came out intact!  Must have been difficult for him, especially as he uncoupled the first two wagons & drove away to safety.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: stuving on January 14, 2022, 09:52:49
RAIB have released their final report into this accident (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045465/R012022_220113_Llangennech.pdf).
.......
Hard to summarise, but this is one of many places in the railways (or other places) that workers doing little-regarded jobs like maintaining goods wagons need to get it right or stuff like this happens. And that comes down to management, inspection, rules and regulation, certification, and all that. No-one involved in that comes out looking good, not even ORR.

I noticed they seemed to have given the driver a grilling, but he came out intact!  Must have been difficult for him, especially as he uncoupled the first two wagons & drove away to safety.

I'm puzzled where you see that. The only critical comments on the driver's actions are about the brake pipe overcharge, which was not completed by the book. The main observation is that this could have caused brakes to drag, but since in this case it did not they so not draw any conclusions from it. As I read it, leaving the brake pipe overcharged was a serious mistake, and RAIB may well have passed comments on it back to this FOC and others, and to RSSB, without putting it in this report.

According to the report the locomotive and two wagons separated in the accident and braked to a stand 180 m away. The driver supposedly then moved those two wagons to 400 m away, but that doesn't match what I thought at the time. Looking at the overhead video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE13pbeW0Kg) (still on youtube), I can see why - the two wagons, without locomotive, are within 200 m of the nearest capsized wagon.

So, not for the first time, RAIB appear to have got a bit of their narrative report wrong. I think this comes down this being not important to them: it didn't affect the accident or its consequences. I guess the driver uncoupled and moved the locomotive from the first halt, but may have gone back and collected those two wagons a bit later when asked to by the emergency services. It's hard otherwise to see why they would be moved, but then left relatively close.


Title: Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020
Post by: stuving on February 19, 2023, 10:39:54
It turns out that NRW have been looking at prosecuting someone (https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news/news/llangennech-pollution-investigation-ends-with-no-further-action/?lang=en) too - but in the end can't justify it. I guess that makes sense, since the main result of the accident was environment damage.
Quote
A Natural Resources Wales (NRW) investigation into the Llangennech rail wagon derailment, fire and diesel spill that occurred on Thursday, 26 August 2020, has concluded there is insufficient evidence for a successful conviction, and it would be a reckless use of public monies to pursue a prosecution.

The investigation into the cause of the incident was complex and thorough. It involved investigating a number of different companies, with a view to prosecuting those responsible for the environmental damage caused to the area. However, there is no realistic prospect of conviction against any company or individual and therefore no charges will be brought against anyone in relation to the incident.

The major incident had a detrimental effect on an internationally protected site and impacted local businesses and tourism. Shellfisheries were closed for seven weeks as a precaution following advice from the Food Standards Agency. The section of railway line was closed for seven months.

Environmental disaster was avoided thanks to extensive works carried out as part of a recovery operation by Adler and Allan Ltd contractors on behalf of DB Cargo and their insurers, supported by Jacobs on behalf of Network Rail, with technical support from NRW, Carmarthenshire County Council, City and County of Swansea Council,  The Coal Authority, the Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales.



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