Signal box evacuated as major fire disrupts Southeastern trains
As if the Gatwick issues weren’t enough news of another major transport incident is emerging with the evacuation of a major Signal Box which controls Southeastern trains across south east London and Kent.
Ashford signal box is currently evacuated due to an electrical substation fire which is impacting on trains across the Southeastern network. One person has been injured.
Firefighters are currently dealing with a fire at an electrical substation in #Ashford, near #AshfordInternational. A smoke plume from the blaze is headed towards the town centre, so local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/9e8yv3mM7S
— Kent Fire and Rescue Service (@kentfirerescue) December 20, 2018
In recent years Network Rail have rationalised signal functions to just a few major signal boxes. Any disruption at one has wide ranging effects.
Kent Fire Brigade are battling the fire and it’s too soon to see the length of disruption but services tonight are at a standstill in many areas.
National Grid Control is fully resilient.
Now, railways are part of our critical national infrastructure, yes ??
So why no resilient control ??
a big thankyou to southeastern who paid for a taxi from hildenborough to marden so I could get home to my disabled wife last night. you went above and beond.