TWISTED METAL AFTER DIESEL TRAIN INFERNO
THESE photographs capture the scene of destruction left by the huge fire which engulfed a derailed freight train in Llangennech.
The pictures show the extent of the damage caused by the blaze, which saw three wagons of a freight train carrying a large amount of diesel go up in a ball of flame in the village, near Llanelli, just before 11.20pm on Wednesday, August 26.
Network Rail has now removed vegetation to create a safe place for a Kirow crane to be placed, which will be used to move the freight wagons.
It is understood a “test lift” took place at the site yesterday, and that the wagons will be officially removed from the scene from today, at a rate of two wagons per day.
There has been an increase in traffic in the village over the past few days as machinery and vehicles have moved on to the site to begin the clean-up operation.
Network Rail said it had successfully pumped thousands of litres of diesel from the wagon tanks and the ditch in the surrounding area.
Natural Resources Wales has dug trenches at the site to intercept diesel spilled from the wagons, and vacuuming and skimming operations are taking place.
It is monitoring local watercourses, with booms and absorbent pads being used and regularly replaced to contain as much of the diesel as possible.
An investigation has been launched by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), in conjunction with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and British Transport Police (BTP) which says the derailment is not believed to have been caused by criminal activity.
The railway line remains shut, and the passenger services that normally operate along this section of railway are currently replaced with bus services until the stretch can reopen.
The two railway workers on the freight service were both uninjured, and managed to separate the service (split and de-couple wagons) to reduce the number of wagons at risk of catching fire.
The train was made up of 25 loaded wagons – each capable of holding 100,000 litres of diesel or gas oil.
Of these, five wagons derailed and four were on fire.
Fourteen wagons and the locomotive were separated and are now away from the site.
Carmarthenshire council tweeted confirmation that recovery of the freight units would start yesterday.
“Specialist road haulage vehicles will be used for transportation, taking a route along Heol Y Parc, Station Road and on to the B4297 Pontarddulais Road to the A4138 and on to the M4,” it said. “We are asking for your co-operation in ensuring the safe movement of these large vehicles, and ask you to move parked vehicles along the eastern side of this route (and on the western side along some bends and junctions) from 7am and 8pm from tomorrow morning until September 9.
“@DyfedPowys will be assisting us in ensuring the route is free from obstruction. Traffic cones will be put in place, and we are visiting affected properties this evening to deliver detailed information.
“We appreciate that this is short notice, however this is a complex operation.”