Fuel-laden train derails and explodes into 50ft fireball

RAIL crash experts are to examine a bridge that collapsed as a fuel train derailed and burst into flames.

Two of the train's ten wagons caught fire in the crash, just south of Stewarton in Ayrshire early yesterday morning, sending flames 50ft into the air.

No-one was injured in the incident, but the Barrhead-Kilmarnock line will stay shut until at least next week.

Half of the kerosene heating oil in one wagon's 100-tonne tank burned in the blaze or leaked. There were smaller leaks from the five other wagons which derailed, some carrying diesel.

An overhead power line was also brought down, leaving up to 100 homes around nearby Kilmaurs without electricity.

John Dicks, who lives a mile from the crash site, told of the immediate aftermath, with a "raging" fire sending flames shooting 50ft in the air.

He said: "There's just a big fireball with thick black smoke."

Police and rail investigators will examine the derailment, collapsed bridge and preparatory work that had started on double-tracking the single track line. Work on replacing the bridge, over the A735 Stewarton-Kilmarnock road, was due to start this weekend.

Network Rail said the bridge had last been inspected last February. There was speculation it may have been struck by a vehicle recently but not reported.

Chief Superintendent Martyn Ripley, Scotland commander of British Transport Police, said: "The bridge is being looked at, but I cannot say it was the cause. One wagon was on fire and there were flames licking round a second that had ruptured, with pockets of fire."

The incident happened at about 6:25am while the train, carrying fuel for BP, was en route from Mossend in Lanarkshire to the firm's terminal near Kilmarnock. The 50 firefighters who fought the blaze were unable to go into action for nearly four hours, until ScottishPower had made safe the fallen power cable. The fire was extinguished by noon.

The 45-year-old male driver of the train was not injured.

Assistant Chief Officer Dave Goodhew, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said it was fortunate the crash had not involved a passenger train. He said: "I think the time of day was very, very lucky.

"Luckily nobody was underneath it, no pedestrians. The train has managed to get over the bridge. We were very, very lucky that it was not carriages full of commuters."


Nine in ten 'happy' with First ScotRail

PASSENGER satisfaction with Scotland's main train operator has reached record levels, according to independent research by rail watchdogs.

Nine in ten travellers believe First ScotRail is providing a satisfactory or good service, the latest national passenger survey shows.

The rating was second equal, along with the English operators c2c, Chiltern and Merseyrail, to Heathrow Express, at 93 per cent.

First ScotRail's result, for last autumn, is six points higher than the previous year and two points better than last spring.

The survey of nearly 1,000 passengers found the firm had made significant improvements in ticket prices, station facilities, such as ticket machines, and interior cleanliness of trains.

However, it continued to score poorly on dealing with delays, with only 42 per cent of passengers satisfied, while just 45 per cent were happy with the state of train toilets.

Among other firms operating in Scotland, satisfaction with National Express East Coast was 88 per cent, while Virgin Trains and CrossCountry scored 84 per cent and First TransPennine Express 83 per cent.

Robert Samson, Scotland manager for Passenger Focus, which carried out the survey, said: "These results are good news for passengers, but there is still room to improve.

"Passengers tell us there are still issues around fares, dealing with delays, staff availability, security and car parks. Toilet facilities also continue to cause a problem."