Blazing train brings West Coast Main Line to standstill
Flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the sky – this was the dramatic scene as a freight train caught fire, leading to long delays for passengers in Wolverhampton.
The blaze took hold at 8.30pm at the Norton Bridge train station near Stone, Staffordshire and brought chaos to services through the Black Country.
Firefighters say the cause was accidental. As a result all trains heading north of Stafford were delayed or stopped and the train hit by the fire was so badly damaged that it still remained at the station today while Network Rail investigated how to move it.
Electricity had to be isolated when the fire took hold and all trains heading from Stafford faced delays of up to 90 minutes.
The 10.38pm service from Birmingham New Street station to Crewe service was also cancelled. All trains were running again this morning as a diversion was put in place to avoid the damaged train. Those from Stafford were, however, delayed by around 15 minutes.
A road block was also put in place in Station Road, in Norton Bridge, at the peak of the fire.
London Midland spokesman Daniel Scaife has apologised for the delays and cancellations to services. "Road transport was arranged to operate between Liverpool and Crewe and Crewe and Wolverhampton."
Network Rail spokesperson Rachel Lowe, said the train, carrying stone, remained in place this morning as it suffered severe damage.
Richard Gardner, aged 35, of Warwick, who took the photograph, said: "I saw what I thought was a steam engine on the railway, but when it came into view it was a freight train and its fifth wagon was on fire."