Much as I loath the service I receive from First Great Western, this wasn't down to me.

Fortunately, none of the 400 passengers or further evacuees from Didcot Parkway station seems to have been hurt, but it could be leaving First Great Western with some long-term damage. If postings on a number of railway forums are to be believed, this is the third such fire involving one of First's newly re-engined High Speed Trains. And, let's be honest, the enthusiasts are usually right.

If there's one thing First Great Western is right about, it's the long-term merits of refurbishing its 30-year old HST fleet over buying new; they're much preferred by passengers on the grounds of speed, number of seats, ride-quality and comfort, to the point where FGW plans not to renew the lease on some of its newer trains when HST refurbishment is complete. But with quite such dramatic teething troubles (for teething troubles they are, I'm certain), it's a wonder the country's media aren't licking around First's headquarters with all the ferocity of Saturday's flames.

I hope they get this sorted before something terrible happens. Quite aside from the potential dangers of trains bursting into flames unannounced, it would be tragic to see the excellent reputation of the HST besmirched by an ignorant media, hungry for an easy scapegoat. The age of the train would dominate the headlines, and First would be slaughtered for their use of 'museum pieces' or the like, where actually they deserve praise. The danger lies not with the HST because it's old, but with a modification that presumably needs a little more thought.

It could happen to any train...

... but as Ollie and his online journalist friends know, seldom you can find a photo, eh Ollie?...