TRAIN BLAZE CAUSES CHAOS - VIDEO

Kevin Paterson 1530 - 1530 • Last updated 28 Jan 2009 10:56 0 Comments

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THE Stewarton area was brought to a standstill yesterday after a freight train derailed and caught fire about half a mile south of the town.

Fire crews from as far away as Glasgow battled to control the inferno and an exclusion zone was set up around the area at Peacock Bank Farm.

Six wagons from the ten wagon train overturned at about 6.15am and some caught fire.

It is understood the train hit a pylon while crossing a bridge, which has now collapsed.

The nearby A735 has been closed as a result of the incident while some power lines have came down.

Network Rail confirmed the train was carrying diesel and heating oil and was travelling between Mossend and Riccarton, near Kilmarnock.

There were no injuries and the 45-year-old driver has been accounted for and is unharmed.

Assistant Chief Officer at Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, David Goodhew, said: 'Each carriage was carrying approximately 100 tonnes of fuel. The fuel is diesel and kerosine.

'When we arrived we were faced with a major fire involving running fuel. It was running down the road and bank and catching alight.

'Crews surveyed the scene and withdrew immediately. When they surveyed the scene they found there were power cables going over the derailed carriages.

'Scottish Power have now isolated the power cables which were causing concern.'

The blaze was brought under control yesterday afternoon but there has been some concern about the environmental damage caused by the crash.

An investigation by Network Rail was set to begin yesterday in an attempt to identify the cause of the incident.

Passengers services in the area have been severely affected and buses are replacing trains between Barrhead and Kilmarnock. The Glasgow to Carlisle service is running via Barassie.

This article appeared in Irvine Times 28 Jan 09

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