Huge crane lifts crashed carriages from rail track
FEW allotment associations generally permit the use of any tools much bigger than a simple shovel.
But the London Road Allotments in Salisbury are this week home to machinery somewhat heavier than that normally used by green-fingered souls growing carrots.
A giant crane towers above the scene in the Wiltshire city where two trains collided in an accident on Sunday evening.
Progress on removing the stricken trains accelerated yesterday as carriages began being lifted from Fisherton Tunnel by crane.
Further lifts are due to take place today, but nevertheless rail authorities yesterday said there will be further delays to the restoration of services.
On Wednesday evening the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and British Transport Police completed their on-site investigations into what caused the accident between two trains carrying 92 passengers.
They will issue formal accident reports at a later date.
The location was handed back to Network Rail which is now handling the removal of the trains before repairs to the line can be undertaken.
It was holding a question and answer session for local residents last night. While the operation is under way, London Road is closed to traffic, including to pedestrians, although Network Rail confirms there is still access on either side of the bridge for people who live on the street.
It added: “We anticipate the actual lifting of the train carriages should take a couple of days, and then another day to break down the crane site and give the people of London Road and the allotments their space back.
“We’re so grateful to our neighbours for their patience.”
Then by Sunday it hopes it can get on with the repairs to the line in earnest, but rail services are unlikely to resume until at least Monday, November 15.
It said on Twitter: “Once the crane has gone, we can reopen the road and work will start on the railway. Our engineers have been on site for several days assessing what needs to be done.
“We have a plan but we must be clear that plan lacks firm timescales at present as we are still corralling resources and nailing down the approach.
“We will have to carry out what is called a ‘heavy refurbishment’ on the junction where the accident happened, which is one stop short of a complete replacement.
“The advantage is we don’t have to dig everything up and start again with new components, but it’s still a big job.
“At the same time, we’re investigating potentially laying new track in Fisherton Tunnel.
“The signalling equipment in the area is undergoing assessment and we’re assessing what we need to do to bring it back into working order. Once it’s fixed it will be tested to make sure it’s safe for trains to return.”
The crash happened at 6.45pm on Sunday night as two trains approached Salisbury’s Fisherton Tunnel.
Investigators believe a South Western Railway (SWR) train failed to stop at a red signal due to its wheels slipping on the rails.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said this led to it travelling 220 metres past the signal before smashing into the side of a Great Western Railway train at the point where the tracks they were on merged. Both trains derailed and travelled into the tunnel before coming to a standstill.
The SWR train was driven by Robin Tandy, 74, who suffered what police described as “life-changing injuries”.
Mr Tandy has been hailed as a hero by colleagues for his quick reactions, which they said prevented a bigger accident.
He was airlifted to University Hospital Southampton with 13 passengers treated at Salisbury District Hospital for minor injuries.
GWR yesterday advised customers from the Bristol and Bath areas travelling towards the South Coast to use their ticket on services to Reading and change there for CrossCountry services to Southampton Central.
Rail replacement bus services will operate between Salisbury and Romsey.
Pre-pandemic nearly 2 million passengers per year travelled on rail via Salisbury, which is the second busiest station in Wiltshire after Swindon.