Train Hits Tree on Mainline as Guildford is Lashed by Storm – Flood Alerts Issued

Published on: 23 Dec, 2013
Updated on: 23 Dec, 2013

The splintered trunk of the tree hit by a Portsmouth bound train this evening just north of St Catherine’s railway tunnel. A southbound train slowly makes its way past.

A train hit a tree brought down this evening (December 23), by St Catherine’s tunnel just south of the Guildford, in a storm that has brought increasing wind and rain and flood alerts as the day went on.

The railway incident occurred at approximately 9.30pm. A neighbouring resident said, “We heard this noise like a deluge of water and a blast of wind pushed at our back door. Then, almost immediately, there was the sound of an impact on the railway line as a training heading towards Godalming, hit something, I now know to be a tree. The train didn’t stop. We called the police straight away to warn them.”

The same resident alerted the Guildford Dragon NEWS. A reporter was on the scene within minutes and was able to observe the scene from the bridge that takes Ferry Lane over the line at this point.

A diesel train from Redhill was stationary, having just emerged from St Catherine’s tunnel. In its headlight could be seen a large pile, of what appeared to be, matchwood, blocking the line. The down (Godalming bound) line appeared completely clear and within minutes the first of several trains passed through heading south but at a crawl.

There was no evidence that anyone had been hurt.

The tree that had fallen was a very tall Leylandii with a trunk diameter of about 18 inches. At least another three had snapped off near their base and were leaning against the others, still standing in the hedge-line.

As our reporter was leaving the scene around 9. 45pm flashing torchlights indicated that a railway maintenance team might have started clear up work.

This stretch of line is no stranger to incident. In the 19th century there were two: a derailment, causing several fatalities, when a bullock escaped onto the line; and a tunnel collapse in which a goods train ran in fallen sand within the blocked tunnel. Fortunately no one was badly hurt.

In October 1915 during the First World War, one of 12 bombs dropped by a Zeppelin damaged the line but it was repaired within a day. Then in the 1950s during work to replace the Ferry Lane bridge the old bridge collapsed as it was about to be dismantled. Although school children, who regularly played on the building site, witnessed the incident, none were hurt.

Resolute shoppers on the High Street continue the Christmas shopping in the wind and rain.

Earlier in the day Christmas shoppers appeared to be remaining resolute to make their last-minute Christmas purchases as the rain and wind built up.

The river, level at midday was well with the norm 1.81 metres. The Environment Agency website stated: “The river level at Guildford is 1.81 metres. This measurement was recorded at 10:30 on 23/12/2013.

Although the river appeared higher than usual the Environment Agency was reporting that it was still well within its normal range at midday when this photo of the Millmead footbridge was taken.

“The typical river level range for this location is between 1.10 metres and 2.45 metres. The highest river level recorded at this location is 3.88 metres and the river level reached 2.82 metres on 14/12/2008.”

By 10.30pm the agency website showed the River Wey level at Guildford had risen to 1.93 metres but no flood warning or alert has been issued for the town itself. Flood warnings (Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.) have been issued for Cranleigh, Shamley Green, Elstead and Eashing. Flood alerts (Flooding is possible. Be prepared.) have been issued for Chilworth, Shalford, Tilford, Godalming and Peasmarsh.