Spain - railway services, ticketing and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

This is now reported as the worst ever flood in Spain, by either number of lives lost, or by the amount of property destroyed.
Death toll now 160+

It has been suggested that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.

[TaplowGreen]

It has been suggested that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.

What was your source for the suggestions for British troops/heavy equipment?

[broadgage]

It has been suggested that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.

What was your source for the suggestions for British troops/heavy equipment?

An officer whom I met at a social event suggested that the idea was being actively considered.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The death toll in Spain has now risen to over 200: from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgk1m7g73ydt

That BBC item is date stamped 1 October, by the way, but I think that's just careless editing.

[broadgage]

There is very considerable public dissatisfaction with the government response to this disaster, which is widely considered to be "too little and too late" The Spanish King was pelted with mud by an angry crowd when visiting the scene.

When a similar disaster occurs in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), Would our authorities do any better ?

[ChrisB]

I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?

[Witham Bobby]

I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?

I've read reports of around 30 "dams" (probably more like weirs and sluices, but I'm not sure) having been removed in more recent years from waterways in and above the afflicted area.  If this is correct, it would seem to have been an unwise move.  Huge rainfall totals in the mountains are not unknown.  The last time something like this happened was within living memory

[broadgage]

I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?

I've read reports of around 30 "dams" (probably more like weirs and sluices, but I'm not sure) having been removed in more recent years from waterways in and above the afflicted area.  If this is correct, it would seem to have been an unwise move.  Huge rainfall totals in the mountains are not unknown.  The last time something like this happened was within living memory

In general, the upper reaches of streams and small rivers should have small dams and other obstructions to prevent heavy rain from rapidly running downhill. Introducing beavers is helpful as these creatures tend to build dams.
In the absence of beavers, felling trees such that they fall across streams can help.
The lower reaches of rivers should in most cases be dredged and obstructions removed in order that excess water may run into the sea without flooding land and property adjacent to the river.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Without wishing in any way to detract from those tragic events in Spain: we have experienced similar, very unexpected, flooding in England, within living memory.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynmouth_Flood

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

... and in Wales, sadly.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster

 

[broadgage]

... and in Wales, sadly.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster

 

The Aberfan disaster was not really comparable to the Lynmouth flooding or the current disaster in Spain. The Aberfan disaster was man made, caused by siting a spoil heap unwisely, the other floods were natural disasters.
I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.

[GBM]

Boscastle in 2004
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Boscastle_flood
https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24495485.20th-anniversary-boscastle-flooding-cornwall-pictures/

[Oxonhutch]

I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.

Primary school collection of sixpence per week.

[johnneyw]

I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.

I remember it as being the very first news story on TV that I sat up, took notice of and followed as it unfolded.

[broadgage]

I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.

Primary school collection of sixpence per week.

I gave over £2, a very considerable sum back then. As a young child I did not have £2 of my own, but it was from my grandfather who had been saving pennies in a jar. Another child gave £5, again from a relative. Most kids had never seen a five pound note and it was passed round the class in order that everyone could admire it !