On the 21st July this year, a fire caused extensive damage to Paignton station.
The infrastructure and station building were damaged, resulting in part of platform 2 being out of use.
Long-distance services were unable to call at the station, with stopping services able to use one end of the platform.
On the 24th August, the entirety of Platform 2 will reopen, and nine-carriage services will be able to serve the station once more.
The station reopened one week after the blaze, and since then, work has been underway to repair and rebuild. This work is still ongoing, so the main entrance, ticket office and footbridge will remain closed.
“Reinstating access to the full length of Platform 2 ahead of schedule is the result of a huge team effort from colleagues across the railway industry who have worked tirelessly since the fire to ensure we could restore long-distance services to Paignton as safely and as swiftly as possible.
“Although parts of the station remain closed while rebuilding continues, this latest milestone will improve capacity and convenience for passengers.
“We’re grateful to the community and our local partners for their ongoing support throughout the recovery. While the return of full-length access to Platform 2 is a major achievement, our work doesn’t stop here. We are now focused on restoring the station canopy, footbridge and other key facilities, while keeping trains running and the station open for passengers.”
Network Rail route infrastructure engineer, Daniel ParkesNetwork Rail route infrastructure engineer, Daniel Parkes
Responses
This year in June, I spent some visiting days at Paignton and took lots of pics. Shocked to learn of the fire. However I saw collections of young people loitering around the platform and stairs areas at Paignton and Torquay stations, late afternoons. They would have been “moved on” if there were station staff available.
I recall the fires at newly restored stations at Eastbourne and Nottingham.
Surely it would be cheaper, with the cost of fire damage (buildings are not insured due to premium costs) if FIRE RETARDANT or intumescent coating be used across the Network ?
Bricks do not catch fire but ceiling plaster boards and also wood catches fire.
Of course the proper approach would be sprinklers valves,
Surely prevention of a station fire is cheaper for Network Rail /GBR/Franchisees than a recovery/rebuild/public inconvenience, from a fire ?