Explanation of fires on the 29000 commuter railcars

[Mark Gleeson]

Word has come through that the reports of fires on the 29000 series railcars in recent months are apparently due to a design weakness, it also effects its close cousin the C3K up North.

Apparently the vibration is so bad that the fuel line to the main engine is leaking, to make matters worse the fuel line passes over the exhaust.

Possible incidents where this occurred include several incidents on the Maynooth/Sligo line and a further one on the Northern line

In all cases the fire detection system activated and the driver dealt with the fire with the cab extinguisher

Design modifications are being carried out

Nice of Irish Rail to let the public know

[ThomasJ]

i remember this one

From RTE NEWS 10th July 2006

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0710/train.html

Fire on train in Dublin is extinguished

Monday, 10 July 2006 20:54

Dublin Fire Brigade has dealt with a fire on a train at Castleknock Station.

Flames were seen coming from the underside of one of the carriages this evening.

Dublin Fire Brigade was called to the scene and extinguished the fire.

No one was injured

I was told that on the day of the disruption between bray-connolly due to the problems with the drogheda and the maynooth trains, the 16.42 connolly maynooth people had reported a severe amount of smoke and possibly even a small fire. The driver inspected it and continued making me believe there wasn't a fire. The train involved was an older version either 2600 or 2800 not sure which.

[James Shields]

Interesting. I wonder could this be in any related to the original Northern Line incident? I'm aware that the fire detection system wasn't activated, but I smelt smoke from a couple of carriages back, and several passengers I spoke to said they saw flames.

Do we have any confirmation of dates when fires have occurred? How long has this been known about?

I assume the advice still stands, that unless the carriage is filling up with smoke, it's still a lot better to stay on the train than evacuate onto the trackside, and if you do need to evacuate, make sure it's not into the potential path of an oncoming train.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by lostcarpark

Interesting. I wonder could this be in any related to the original Northern Line incident? I'm aware that the fire detection system wasn't activated, but I smelt smoke from a couple of carriages back, and several passengers I spoke to said they saw flames.

That was a mechanical failure

Originally Posted by lostcarpark

Do we have any confirmation of dates when fires have occurred? How long has this been known about?

Dates 10th Oct 2006 and 10 March 2007

I assume the advice still stands, that unless the carriage is filling up with smoke, it's still a lot better to stay on the train than evacuate onto the trackside, and if you do need to evacuate, make sure it's not into the potential path of an oncoming train.

Always move to the next carriage in preference to leaving the train and if you leave the train leave the track side asap

[ThomasJ]

Mark any idea what caused the fire on the tenth of july at castleknock

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

Mark any idea what caused the fire on the tenth of july at castleknock

I assume its one of the incidents, it fits the profile small fire dealt with quickly with minimal damage

[Colm Moore]

Also, don't exit over the fire area, find an alternative exit.

What happens in 4-track locations where 'slow' trains use the centre?