| Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 11:09, 31st October 2024 |      |
Due to storm damage. News reports show numerous vehicles and piles of debris dumped on lines by floodwaters. Two tunnels have reportedly collapsed.
The flood disaster has so far taken around 100 lives, and many are still missing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckmgmdxg254t
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by ChrisB at 21:09, 31st October 2024 | |
Check this out - the pictures coming from there are simply stunningly bad
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 23:57, 31st October 2024 | |
This is now reported as the worst ever flood in Spain, by either number of lives lost, or by the amount of property destroyed.
Death toll now 160+
It has been suggested that the UK should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by TaplowGreen at 09:46, 1st November 2024 | |
It has been suggested that the UK should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.
What was your source for the suggestions for British troops/heavy equipment?
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 10:30, 1st November 2024 | |
It has been suggested that the UK should send troops from the REME, together with Bailey bridges and other supplies.
What was your source for the suggestions for British troops/heavy equipment?
An officer whom I met at a social event suggested that the idea was being actively considered.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:49, 1st November 2024 | |
The death toll in Spain has now risen to over 200: from the BBC, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgk1m7g73ydt
That BBC item is date stamped 1 October, by the way, but I think that's just careless editing.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 13:40, 4th November 2024 | |
There is very considerable public dissatisfaction with the government response to this disaster, which is widely considered to be "too little and too late" The Spanish King was pelted with mud by an angry crowd when visiting the scene.
When a similar disaster occurs in the UK, Would our authorities do any better ?
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by ChrisB at 13:54, 4th November 2024 | |
I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by Witham Bobby at 14:48, 4th November 2024 | |
I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?
I've read reports of around 30 "dams" (probably more like weirs and sluices, but I'm not sure) having been removed in more recent years from waterways in and above the afflicted area. If this is correct, it would seem to have been an unwise move. Huge rainfall totals in the mountains are not unknown. The last time something like this happened was within living memory
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 15:06, 4th November 2024 | |
I'm not sure that we would....the whole of Cumbria for example having a foot of water fall in rain over 36 hours would wash away a similar amount of housing & infrastructure including a city the size of Bristol.....getting that amount of replacement white goods to every house, while clearing the piles of wrecked vehicles & trees etc along with all the dead....? All at the same time (which is where the Spanish got it wrong)....no country is set up for that amount of recovery?
I've read reports of around 30 "dams" (probably more like weirs and sluices, but I'm not sure) having been removed in more recent years from waterways in and above the afflicted area. If this is correct, it would seem to have been an unwise move. Huge rainfall totals in the mountains are not unknown. The last time something like this happened was within living memory
In general, the upper reaches of streams and small rivers should have small dams and other obstructions to prevent heavy rain from rapidly running downhill. Introducing beavers is helpful as these creatures tend to build dams.
In the absence of beavers, felling trees such that they fall across streams can help.
The lower reaches of rivers should in most cases be dredged and obstructions removed in order that excess water may run into the sea without flooding land and property adjacent to the river.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:47, 4th November 2024 | |
Without wishing in any way to detract from those tragic events in Spain: we have experienced similar, very unexpected, flooding in England, within living memory.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynmouth_Flood
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:55, 4th November 2024 | |
... and in Wales, sadly.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 00:36, 5th November 2024 | |
... and in Wales, sadly.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster
The Aberfan disaster was not really comparable to the Lynmouth flooding or the current disaster in Spain. The Aberfan disaster was man made, caused by siting a spoil heap unwisely, the other floods were natural disasters.
I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by GBM at 06:47, 5th November 2024 | |
Boscastle in 2004
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Boscastle_flood
https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24495485.20th-anniversary-boscastle-flooding-cornwall-pictures/
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by Oxonhutch at 06:58, 5th November 2024 | |
I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.
Primary school collection of sixpence per week.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by johnneyw at 11:49, 5th November 2024 | |
I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.
I remember it as being the very first news story on TV that I sat up, took notice of and followed as it unfolded.
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 13:01, 5th November 2024 | |
I REMEMBER the Aberfan disaster, which makes me feel very old.
Primary school collection of sixpence per week.
I gave over £2, a very considerable sum back then. As a young child I did not have £2 of my own, but it was from my grandfather who had been saving pennies in a jar. Another child gave £5, again from a relative. Most kids had never seen a five pound note and it was passed round the class in order that everyone could admire it !
| Re: Various high speed rail closures in Spain. Posted by broadgage at 18:20, 13th November 2024 | |
More flooding in Spain, and yet more heavy rain is forecast.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80lxd9kne0o
