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Train fire disruption to continue | Train fire disruption to continue |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Rail journeys will continue to be affected until Wednesday following a blaze on a train on the main railway line between Scotland and England. | Rail journeys will continue to be affected until Wednesday following a blaze on a train on the main railway line between Scotland and England. |
Network Rail said it was "very hopeful" the line would reopen within 24 hours of Tuesday's fire in East Lothian. | Network Rail said it was "very hopeful" the line would reopen within 24 hours of Tuesday's fire in East Lothian. |
The train was carrying 36 new cars, which were destroyed. | The train was carrying 36 new cars, which were destroyed. |
Buses have replaced trains between North Berwick and Prestonpans, with rail services starting and terminating at Berwick upon Tweed. | Buses have replaced trains between North Berwick and Prestonpans, with rail services starting and terminating at Berwick upon Tweed. |
The train was being removed at on Tuesday afternoon to make way for engineers to begin fixing overhead cables with "extensive damage". | |
Fifteen foot flames were visible from Drem Steve DalgleishEyewitness | Fifteen foot flames were visible from Drem Steve DalgleishEyewitness |
It is understood the track and signalling cables were not damaged during the fire. | It is understood the track and signalling cables were not damaged during the fire. |
Lothian and Borders Police said the final three carriages of the train had caught fire and the vehicles on board had been destroyed. | |
Eyewitness Steve Dalgleish told the BBC Scotland news website: "I passed this train at 0730 GMT and it was well alight. | Eyewitness Steve Dalgleish told the BBC Scotland news website: "I passed this train at 0730 GMT and it was well alight. |
"Fifteen foot flames were visible from Drem and there were multiple fire engines and emergency vehicles on scene." | "Fifteen foot flames were visible from Drem and there were multiple fire engines and emergency vehicles on scene." |
Owen Parry, who also witnessed the fire, said: "Not sure what was on the truck but there were detonations every couple of minutes." | |
Fellow website user Anton said he planned to travel to London by train "to be green" but had to abandon his journey. | |
He said: "The GNER/Scotrail staff were helpful enough, but the first bus to arrive at Waverley wouldn't start and no more arrived for at least half an hour. | |
Cooling down | Cooling down |
"At 9am I headed home. I hope someone covers the cost of my cancelled hotel." | |
Householders near the railway line were advised by police to close their doors and windows because of smoke although a south-westerly wind was blowing fumes away from the residential area. | |
By 1000 GMT on Tuesday, firefighters were cooling down the carriages by spraying cold water on them from two hoses. | By 1000 GMT on Tuesday, firefighters were cooling down the carriages by spraying cold water on them from two hoses. |
Network Rail said there were no trains running south of Edinburgh on the line and trains travelling north were terminating at either Newcastle or Berwick as a result of the fire. | Network Rail said there were no trains running south of Edinburgh on the line and trains travelling north were terminating at either Newcastle or Berwick as a result of the fire. |
The 10-wagon train, operated by freight carrier EWS, left Washwood Heath, Birmingham, at 2153 GMT on Monday and had been due into Bathgate, West Lothian, at 0832 GMT on Tuesday. | The 10-wagon train, operated by freight carrier EWS, left Washwood Heath, Birmingham, at 2153 GMT on Monday and had been due into Bathgate, West Lothian, at 0832 GMT on Tuesday. |
EWS, which operates about 800 freight trains a day across the country, refused to say what type of vehicles were being transported. | EWS, which operates about 800 freight trains a day across the country, refused to say what type of vehicles were being transported. |