Frome station - facilities, services, improvements, events and incidents - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Two trains have collided on a quarry rail line at about 5pm today (link below.)
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Train-crash-quarry/article-378976-detail/article.html

The incident, which happened close to Great Elm pond, near Frome, involved a locomotive carrying stone and an empty train, which was entering the quarry.

Emergency crews at the scene said the driver of the incoming train was shaken, but no other injuries had been reported.

Both locomotives, owned by Hanson, were extensively damaged in the incident.

[Lee]

An investigation is under way into the crash (link below.)
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Investigations-underway-tain-crash/article-387888-detail/article.html

It is believed one of the locomotives had left the depot and was on its way to Westbury when it was hit from behind by a "runaway" train carrying five trucks of stone, just past a bridge in a place known as Bedlam, on the Whatley branch line.

Locomotives are being diverted to other depots in the area, including Aggregate Industries, Tytherington, in North Bristol, and Machen, in South Wales.

[Lee]

The driver of the runaway train had to throw himself to safety (link below.)
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Driver-runaway-train-jump-cab/article-406344-detail/article.html

Brake failure looks to be the likely cause.

The line reopened on Tuesday.

[Trowres]

06:10 Frome to London Paddington due 08:11

    This train has been reinstated.This is due to poor weather conditions.

    This will be the only service to serve Frome today.

    Last Updated: 05/02/2009 06:09

Did the 06:10 really run? This update from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site was posted 06:09, but the live train departures showed it as Frome:cancelled Westbury:on time (actual).

Only service to serve Frome today? Is it that bad in Frome, or is this a planned "timetable simplification" of the TT?

[tramway]

Clearly a mistake there as trains from Weymouth were running ok, I was on what was the 0802 off Frome albeit I caught it at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)).

[devon_metro]

0610 didn't run Frome- Westbury

[tramway]

 

Too many assumtions on my part there as it managed to get to Trowbridge, forgetting that it would probably miss out Frome altogether. I've not seen anything but is it the same today given the attrocious conditions.

[ReWind]

Frome station is currently closed due to an earlier fatality.  It involved a Weymouth bound unit, which stuck a person near the station.  The train obviously came out of service, and road transport was provided to Weymouth.

[portwine]

Hi,
i was on this train. I'm still thinking about this person. i hope they have found peace.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hi, portwine, and a rather sombre welcome to this forum. 

Looking around other topics here, you will see that there are unfortunately many cases of people choosing to find their own peace in such a way.

As always in such incidents, our thoughts are with the train driver and crew, and the family and friends of the deceased.

Thank you for your comments.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE ISSUE CCTV IMAGES FOLLOWING THEFT OF PASSENGER'S HANDBAG - SOMERSET/WILTSHIRE

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they would like to speak to in connection with the theft of a passenger^s handbag from on board a train.

Officers have today released CCTV images of the man they believe can help with their enquiries into the incident which took place shortly after 9.30am on Sunday 2 May.

A 37-year-old passenger boarded the 0940hrs Frome-Bristol Temple Meads service at Frome station and placed a number of bags on a seat before going into the vestibule of the carriage to talk to another passenger.

When she returned to her seat around five minutes later, she discovered that her handbag containing a mobile telephone worth ^100 and some personal items was missing.

PC Jason Teear (corr) of BTP said: ^After viewing CCTV footage from on board the train we have identified a man who we would like to trace as we believe he may have information which could assist us.

^I would urge anyone who knows the identity of the man in the CCTV pictures, or who knows his whereabouts, to contact British Transport Police in confidence.

^As you can see from one of the photographs, he has a distinctive hairstyle at the back of his head and I believe that someone will recognise him. He got off the train at Westbury rail station so it may be that he lives in that area.^

[JayMac]

A thought has occured to me. It's all well and good BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) putting these details on their website, but would it not be better, and perhaps more likely to identify the miscreants, if posters displaying these pictures were put up at stations along the routes where incidents are alledged to have happened?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Agreed, bignosemac - and I think it would be helpful if more local newspapers picked up these stories and published the details - and pictures - as well! 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

i think there should be a group on facebook offering rewards, not saying that i personally would want a reward for passing on info but it would get peoples attention

[Brucey]

A thought has occured to me. It's all well and good BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) putting these details on their website, but would it not be better, and perhaps more likely to identify the miscreants, if posters displaying these pictures were put up at stations along the routes where incidents are alledged to have happened?

Also posters on the train would help as people might actually spot the offender whilst they are travelling (or at least discourage him from doing it again after seeing himself on a poster)!