Station evacuated after engine fire

9:21pm Thursday 7th August 2008

Rail commuters were evacuated from a major train station after a fire in an engine.

Fire crews were called to Birmingham New Street station at 6.40pm following a fire in the exhaust system of a four-carriage train.

The whole station was evacuated as a precaution while firefighters and engineers worked to make the vehicle safe, West Midlands Fire Service said.

Fire service station manager Nigel Sowden said no-one was injured and passengers were later allowed back into the station.

Mr Sowden said the affected train had been removed from the platform.

He said: "We received a call at 18.43 to New Street station to reports of a train on fire.

"On arrival we found a fire on a high-speed locomotive. Crews worked on site with engineers to isolate machinery.

"The electrics surrounding the train were isolated."

A spokesman for Network Rail said there was no visual evidence of fire on the Arriva Cross Country train but passengers were evacuated as a precaution.

All platforms were reopened but passengers travelling through Birmingham New Street were warned to expect delays and cancellations.