Fire in locomotive No 91520044169-8, servicing Fast train No 2610 in Mezdra South station on 06.01.2023
On 6 January 2023, FT No 2610 departed at 05:00 a.m. according to a schedule for the movement of trains from Varna station in composition of 4 coaches, 170 tons, towed by locomotive No 91520044169-8, serviced by a locomotive driver and an assistant locomotive driver, and transport crew of the train with a train master and a conductor. The staff servicing the train and rolling stock are part of the railway undertaking “BDZ-Passenger Services” EOOD. A diesel locomotive No 92520007126-2 between the train locomotive and the first coach was attached to the train for path. The diesel locomotive was detached from the train at Gorna Oryahovitsa station and FT No 2610 continued its movement in its original composition. The train on the route run daily in the direction of Varna - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Sofia.
FT No 2610 departed from Mezdra station at 10:44 a.m. The train run on a second main track at the station of Mezdra South at 10:47 a.m. without stopping, the station manager at Mezdra South noticed that smoke was coming out of the locomotive’s draft gear. The locomotive driver, looking right at the traffic manager on duty, noticed that the engine compartment was filled with black smoke and initiated a “fast stop” of the train with the automatic train brake applied. The train stopped at 10:50 a.m. and followed a rapid ignition of the locomotive. The locomotive driver submitted information about the fire in the locomotive on the emergency telephone 112. At 11:05 a.m. a fire-extinguishing vehicle from the RD FSaCP Mezdra arrived. At 12:15 a.m. the fire in the locomotive was extinguished and the locomotive was moved to Mezdra South station. At 13:02 p.m. FT No 2610 with locomotive No 91520044162-3 departed from Mezdra South station to Sofia station.
The staff who served the train, as well as the passengers on the train, were not injured. There was no material damage to the railway infrastructure, material damages were caused to the burnt locomotive No 91520044169-8, which serviced FT No 2610.
The train traffic between the stations of Mezdra South and Zverino was interrupted in the period 11:00-12:30 p.m. on 06.01.2023 and was restored as scheduled.