16.01.17
Vivarail: Cause of D-train fire ‘not immediately obvious’
Vivarail has completed its initial investigation into the Class 230 test train fire over the festive period, concluding that the cause of the fire is “not immediately obvious”.
On 30 December 2016, ten members of Vivarail staff were forced to evacuate the three-car Class 230 passenger train near Kenilworth station after one of its gensets set on fire during a test run from Tyseley to Nuneaton via Leamington Spa.
The objectives of the test run included testing the reliability of the genset, which had been fitted with a new engine just before Christmas, and to record timing data to support to support planning activity in relation to proposed passenger operation on the Coventry to Nuneaton (NUCKLE) line.
The fire led to significant disruption of services as it caused trains to be cancelled between Coventry and Leamington Spa and affected services from Manchester to Bournemouth.
“Genset 4 has overall the highest hours of all the gensets – however following an internal engine failure it had been fitted with a new zero hours engine,” the report observed.
“Following fitment of the engine the genset was fitted to the train on 21st December and this was the first occasion that it would have been operating at full power. Prior to this test run GS4 had only been used on the train for providing auxiliaries and low speed shunting.”
Drawing on written recollections of events from all the on-board personnel, the report outlined how two of the Vivarail management staff travelling in the rear coach noticed “puffs of smoke” emerging from the right side of the train shortly after leaving Leamington Spa.
It soon became clear that there was “significant fire” on the underframe of the train, and it came to an emergency stop just outside Kenilworth station. The fire was eventually put out by the fire brigade after staff were unable to put it out alone following their evacuation.
The unit was eventually found capable of moving itself with its remaining good power car and was moved to Coventry Yard under its own power at around 16:45 before later being returned to the engine depot at Tyseley.
“Genset 4 has suffered significant damage and a cause of the fire is not immediately obvious,” the report concluded. “Consequently, a forensic examination of the genset has been arranged.”
Vivarail is due to commence its forensic inspection of the damaged genset tomorrow and aims to publish its final report into the fire by the end of the month.
Last week, RTM revealed that the future of the D-Train on the NUCKLE line is in doubt after local partners pulled out of the project.