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Emergency services on scene after trains collide near Salisbury
The Guardian
Sun October 31, 2021
Emergency services have scrambled to respond to a collision of two trains near Salisbury on Sunday night, in a critical incident that left one train carriage derailed.
About 50 firefighters from Dorset and Wiltshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight and South Western fire and rescue services are at the scene, which is close to London Road in Salisbury, along with Wiltshire police and Network Rail.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said: “A number of people have been injured, but thankfully no one has died.”
The extent of the injuries to passengers and train staff are unknown. PA Media reported injuries are believed to be minor and include about a dozen “walking wounded”.
A driver of one of the trains was reportedly trapped in the cab following the crash, but sources told PA he had since been released, taken to hospital and is not seriously injured.
The BTP said a casualty centre has been set up at St Mark’s Church in Salisbury. Train services in the area have been halted.
Dimitri Popa, 17, from Romania was on the first train carriage – traveling from London Waterloo, when the incident happened. “It all happened very fast, there was a big crash, then I saw flames,” said Popa.
“The carriage was sr 45 degrees to the right. We didn’t know where we were or anything, we were very shocked.”
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said investigations into the crash would be undertaken in order to help prevent similar “serious” incidents in future.
The BTP said officers were called at 6.46pm and responded to an incident at Fisherton Tunnel, Salisbury. Citing a Network Rail spokesperson, PA reported that shortly before 7pm the rear carriage of a GWR train struck an object on its approach to Salisbury station and came off the tracks.
“The derailment knocked out all of the signalling in the area,” the Network Rail spokesperson added. “Subsequently, the 17.20 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton then collided with the Bristol train.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: “We will have to await further details, but this is a very sobering reminder about why safety on our railways is always paramount.
“The thoughts of our entire union are with the loved ones of everyone caught up in what may well turn out to be a tragic event.
“No doubt that over the coming days and weeks we will find out why this accident happened. A full investigation will now need to follow.”
A Great Western Railway spokesperson said: “Emergency services are responding to an incident at Fisherton Tunnel near Salisbury station, involving the 17.08 GWR service between Portsmouth Harbour and Bristol Temple Meads and the 17.20 SWR services from London Waterloo to Honiton.”
“The line is closed as they carry out their work, and we appreciate our customers’ patience as we are doing all we can to help as they respond to the incident.”
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