A fire on board a train at Charing Cross Station led to panic amongst passengers earlier today (23 November)
The fire broke out just before 11am, with witnesses describing smoke and flames coming from one of the trains at the station.
Over 100 people were evacuated from the scene.
Annika Anwary, who works in the station, described “quite a lot of flames and flashing lights”.
She said: “People were just all running out of there.
“They tried to stay calm but there were definitely people running.”
London Fire Brigade said later that there was a small fire in the front carriage of a train on platform six.
Eileen Harris, 60, and her son Daniel, 26, were on the train on platform six to travel to Tunbridge Wells in Kent when the fire started.
“We ran away towards the opposite end of the station because I thought that if there was a bomb, they’d probably take out the concourse.
“But the staff kept saying to us come back in and we really didn’t want to come back through the station, because by then there was thick smoke.
“We were marshalled out here and told that it’d be closed for a very long time, and then the emergency services turned up.
On Twitter dramatic footage emerged of the moment train caught fire.
According to British Transport Police, train fire was believed to be result of electrical fault according. They reported no suspicious circumstances.
Station manager Norman Perry, who was at the scene, said: “A small section of the carriage was damaged by the fire and it caused a lot smoke.
“As well as tackling the fire, firefighters ensured the station and its shops and cafes were properly ventilated so it was safe for people to come back onto the concourse as soon as possible.”
Charing Cross station was closed for about two hours following the fire on a train.
The train affected was the 10.55 South Eastern Trains service to Robertsbridge, in Kent.
Trains were diverted to London Victoria or London Bridge.
More on this news story
From other news sites
ITV.com
Cause of Charing Cross fire under investigation
Eastbourne Herald
Station evacuated after train blaze
