Trains unable to run as track bursts into flames like ‘fireworks’
Trains were still unable to run this evening after a huge blaze damaged a railway line.
Firefighters were called to the track at Whitstable[1] railway station in Old Bridge Road this morning, with one witness comparing it to fireworks going off.
Footage shared on social media shows the line sparking and flames rising from the track.
Witness Geoff Pearson, 54, said: “It was like a big firework going off.
“It was so bright you couldn’t see the centre of it.
“Gladly no one was hurt but the station cleared in less than a minute and the fire service was there in two to three minutes.
“I was apprehensive of being close to the sparking as it created an intense ball of light which was about three-foot high. There was billowing smoke and flames, which were about 10ft high.
“I didn’t want to look at it for too long out of fear of getting an arc eye.
“It all happened seconds after a Ramsgate-bound train passed through and the station was very busy on both sides.
“The London Victoria train did an emergency stop outside Whitstable station, which was due in about a minute after the explosion.”
Rail operator Southeastern says trains are unable to run in the area – which remained the case as of 9pm.
“The line-side fire at Whitstable has led to damage to the track,” the firm said.
⚠️NEW: Due to a line-side fire at #Whitstable[2] trains through the station will be held at the nearest stations whilst the fire brigade deal with the incident.ℹ️ More information to follow.
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) July 21, 2023[3]“Network Rail are awaiting additional staff to carry out repair work.
“You can you use your ticket at no extra cost on local Stagecoach buses.”
As of 6pm, trains were still not running through Whitstable.
Southeastern advised anyone travelling to Dreamland to watch The Human League and Marc Almond to use services via Canterbury West to get to Margate.
A spokesman for the fire service confirmed it was called at 10.25am to reports of a fire on a railway line in Whitstable.
“Two fire engines are in attendance, and the station has been evacuated as a precaution and is likely to be closed for a significant amount of time,” they said.
Crews have since left the scene and the cause is not yet known.
No injuries have been reported.
References
- ^ Whitstable (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ #Whitstable (twitter.com)
- ^ July 21, 2023 (twitter.com)