Heading towards Mdina one recent Sunday morning, a green train was being driven in front of us. As it started going uphill, it became literally engulfed in black smoke. At one time, we thought the train was on fire but it soon transpired the smoke was originating from the exhaust pipe.

We were not the only ones who stopped by the wayside to keep a safe distance from it. Cars which overtook us slowed down on realising the problem.

Thank God, apart from the driver there were no passengers on board the train, consisting of just a couple of carriages and the engine car. I can’t imagine what it would have been like had the train been full of passengers.

No wonder people suffering from lung cancer are on the increase.