Date: 17th April, 2024
9.30am update, 18 April
Repairs to the damaged pipe are expected to take until early afternoon, and SGN will provide updates on this as appropriate.
The Salisbury to Andover stretch of railway line will remain closed until this work is complete, and further updates will be made via Network Rail and South Western Railway.
DWFRS remain on scene to maintain a 60m safety cordon around the leak, but have scaled back attendance to one fire engine and a water carrier.
Anyone in the immediate area may still be able to smell gas in the air, so the advice remains to stay indoors and keep doors/windows closed.
6.45am update, 18 April
SGN have been working through the night to access the damaged gas pipe. DWFRS remain on scene to maintain a 60m safety cordon around the leak, but have scaled back attendance to one fire engine and a water carrier.
The Salisbury to Andover stretch of railway line is still closed. South Western Railway will have further information on its website and social media.
Anyone in the immediate area may still be able to smell gas in the air, so the advice remains to stay indoors and keep doors/windows closed.
9.30pm update
Trains will not be running through Salisbury until tomorrow morning, following a significant gas leak caused by someone digging and rupturing a gas pipe in the city.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was advised by SGN of the leak at a site off London Road at 4.12pm today (17 April). Three fire crews, two from Salisbury and one from Wilton, are on scene, together with water carriers from Andover and Wilton, and an incident command vehicle from Devizes.
As a precaution, an 80m cordon was put in place, and approx. 75 people were evacuated to a place of safety. SGN engineers have now confirmed that the cordon can be reduced, and displaced residents have now returned home.
London Road was closed between the A30/A338 roundabout and the Hampton Park roundabout, but this has been reopened.
However, the railway line remains within the reduced cordon and therefore has to stay closed until SGN have made the repair safely.
Information for affected travellers, including commuters and students, can be found on South Western Railway’s website and social media channels.
There may be some issues with mobile phone coverage in the area around the leak, as two masts need to be closed down temporarily as a safety measure.
Anyone in the immediate area may still be able to smell gas in the air, so the advice remains to stay indoors and keep doors/windows closed.
SGN engineers will be working through the night to make the repair. DWFRS, other emergency services and partners are working with them on scene to bring this incident to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
5.20pm
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was advised by SGN of a gas main leak at a site off London Road, Salisbury at 4.12pm today (17 April). Three fire crews, two from Salisbury and one from Wilton, are on scene, together with a water carrier from Andover and an incident command vehicle from Devizes.
As a precaution, an 80m cordon has been put in place, and approx. 75 people have been evacuated to a place of safety.
London Road is currently closed between the A30/A338 roundabout and the Hampton Park roundabout, and trains have been stopped by Network Rail and South Western Railway.
Anyone in the immediate area may be able to smell gas in the air, so the advice is to stay indoors and keep doors/windows closed.
DWFRS is working with other emergency services and partners to bring this incident to a conclusion as quickly as possible. Gas engineers are on scene, and attempts are underway to cap the leak so the safety precautions can be lifted.