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Train guard praised after engine fire near Twyford | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The "swift action" of a train guard in evacuating passengers after an engine fire has been praised by a rail workers union. | |
Train services to London Paddington were disrupted on Wednesday morning after an engine fire near Twyford. | |
According to the RMT, a train guard got passengers safely off the service. | |
Emergency services were called at 08:55 BST to the Great Western Railway train travelling from Paddington to Oxford. | Emergency services were called at 08:55 BST to the Great Western Railway train travelling from Paddington to Oxford. |
'Potential consequences horrendous' | |
The fire was safely put out and no passengers or staff were hurt, but the train line between Reading, Slough and Maidenhead was closed for about an hour. | |
RMT general secretary Mike Cash said: "If there had been no guard on this train the potential consequences would have been horrendous. | |
"The fire was put out under the direction of the guard who also safely evacuated the passengers on this busy service." | |
An investigation into what caused the fire is under way. | |
The RMT emphasised the importance of train guard's roles in safety of passengers. | |
The union is currently protesting plans announced by Southern Rail to make some services driver-only. |