Hereford - services, facilities and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Andypandy]

Found this out this afternoon:
http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/local/8823229.Fire_closes_Hereford_Railway_Station

[inspector_blakey]

Looks like an ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 175 - those things seem to have a bit of a habit of catching fire. One did it at Prestatyn in 2009, and it's going back a while but I think one of the Adelentes (180 105?), a closely-related design, barbecued itself in reasonably spectacular style near Swindon.

Edited to add

Yes, it was 105 that caught fire, back in 2007.

[anthony215]

Ow dear this was the 2nd inccident involving a class 175 yesterday. 175108 hit a tractor and trailer near Pembrey while working a service to Milford Haven

[Don]

Yes it was a turbo on a 175.  The driver had a problem at Ludlow with it but decided to continue.  At Hereford it was smoking somewhat badly so just in case the train was evacuated and the fire brigade called.  It never actually caught fire I gather but the local police decided to evacuate the station. Nothing ran through Hereford for an hour and a half.  1P65 the 15:11 Hereford to Paddington was stuck in Hereford.

[JayMac]

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

British Transport Police (BTP) officers investigating damage caused at Hereford railway station are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

Officers have today released a CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) image of a man they believe will have information which will assist the investigation into the incident which took place between 2.15am and 2.30am on Friday 5 August 2011.

PC Carol Dade, of BTP, said: ^Rail staff at the station discovered the glass in the telephone box on platform 3 at Hereford station had been smashed. After viewing CCTV from the station, I would now like to identify and speak to the man in this photograph as I believe he will have key information which can assist the investigation.^

Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image, or who knows his current whereabouts, is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident number B3/WWA of 25/08/2011. Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Edit note: Images now removed due to expiry of copyright permission. CfN

[ChrisB]

Now, please explain board policy....

If I was that guy, and I happened to be innocent, I woul;dn't be too happy about appearing on here! In fact, I might just sue the board owner for repeating some defamating webpage.....

[JayMac]

Firstly the information is in the public domain. Secondly there is no defamation. Neither the police, nor myself in posting the item verbatim, have accused the pictured individual of anything.

[ChrisB]

The headline at the top pretty clearly states that the guy pictured in believed to hsve caused damage. Possibly ok on a police site, but if incorrect, I would certainly be annoyed to see it repeated here if it wrmere me.

The police pay comp for these tjings, csn the owner?

[grahame]

Chris - I don't see where it says that the person pictured may be responsible ... the police will look for people who were in the area at the time, as witnesses, as part of their investigations.   Yes - extreme care is needed, and indeed I've been in correspondence on prior occasions with one of the press officers at BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) who is responsible for putting out these pictures to look at issues of their reproduction on our site.

[Chris from Nailsea]

ChrisB - it is a British Transport Police press release: they actually want it to be published!

If you have any concerns over that, may I respectfully suggest that you contact BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) themselves:

For more information contact:
Brian Price
British Transport Police - Wales and Western Area
t:0121 654 2247
m:07787 002 747
e: brian.price@btp.pnn.police.uk

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Hereford Times:

An overground metro could be the answer to Hereford^s congestion problems, according to one campaigner.

As the debate over Hereford^s bypass rattles on, Ledbury-based transport expert Gareth Calan Davies claims a light rail metro system would solve Hereford^s traffic problems.

The former West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive employee, who has published a booklet on the idea, believes an overground system much like the service operating in the West Midlands could be built along existing railway lines and would provide a cheaper, more energy efficient way of getting in and out of the city centre whether or not the bypass is built.

His suggestion has been supported by Pre Metro Operations, the company behind the light rail service between Stourbridge^s Junction and Town stations.

Company director Philip Evans said the alternative transport scheme would be ^eminently suitable^ for Hereford. He said: ^The great advantage that Hereford has is the existence of land already in public ownership that could be used as a transport corridor. The system could link the south to both the historical city and the new development area, and also be extended to other locations such as the railway station and hospital.^

Gareth^s booklet, The Edgar Street Grid-Locked, even features a map with a proposed route for the overground rail.

In it, the metro cars would run north along the existing Great Western Way, which is currently used by Herefordshire Council as a walk and cycleway, following Hunderton Bridge over the River Wye before joining the old railway siding that once served the Bulmers cider works.

It would then curve eastwards onto the working railway line, passing close to the site of the Edgar Street retail development.

^With the attractiveness of a clean, efficient, handy transport alternative to the car, a tram route could carry a significant number of people,^ said Gareth. ^It is recognised that a light rail transit system is but one ingredient in a new city-wide transport system. But it is a start and it is a dynamic and exciting start which deserves an adequate and detailed airing.^

In a rough estimate he believes a metro system would cost in the region of ^22 million, compared with the ^130m western bypass plan currently favoured by the council.

[anthony215]

I must admit I have no idea what to think about this.

Nice idea in theory though

[bobg]

Having lived in Hereford for many years, and also travelled fairly widely across Europe, seeing various public-transportation systems; I have often thought that something like this would be a good thing, in theory at least.
However, my experiences of living there though, and regularly visiting family still lead me to believe that it just wouldn't work for the Herefordians - without a car there is no efficient way to travel around the county reliably (despite the traffic problems).
BTW^▸ (by the way) I am a non-driver!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER PASSENGERS JUMP WALL TO AVOID PAYING FARES ^ HEREFORD

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man and a woman they would like to speak to in connection with an incident at Hereford railway station.

Officers have today released a CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) image of the couple they believe will have information which can assist the investigation.

PC Luke Davis, investigating officer, said the incident took place at around 9.30am on Monday 14 November 2011.

^Station staff at Hereford reported that a man and a woman, who had boarded a train at Worcester Foregate Street rail station, had no tickets when they arrived at Hereford shortly before 9.30am on Monday 14 November,^ PC Davis said.

^They became abusive towards members of staff at the station before avoiding the ticket barriers and jumping over a wall and leaving the station without paying for their fares.

^Enquiries are ongoing and, after viewing CCTV images from the station, I would like to identify and speak to the people in this photograph as I believe they will be able to assist the investigation.

"Fare evasion is a serious issue and we will do everything possible to ensure that those intent on defrauding the railway are brought to justice.

^We will continue to work closely with our partners in the rail industry to ensure that honest, fare-paying customers are not subsidising the rail travel of fare evaders.^

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference B6/WWA of 21/12/2011. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Edit note: Images now removed due to expiry of copyright permission. CfN

[RichardB]

Nice clear CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) images.