Walsall gas main fire causes trains to be cancelled
Trains have been cancelled since mid-afternoon today after a gas main caught fire in Walsall.
Crews from West Midlands Fire Service attended the incident in Wednesbury Road, Bescot, at about 2.30pm after reports of a minor fire under a railway bridge.
Trains running on the Walsall and Chase line have been cancelled due to the fire and are not expected to start running again until Thursday morning.
A spokesman for the service said firefighters made the scene safe and then stood by while the gas board dealt with the incident.
West Midlands Railway has been updating passengers on alternative services via social media, after some people shared their frustration on Twitter.
The rail company tweeted: “Our Wolverhampton to Walsall services will operate as far as either Tame Bridge Parkway or Bescot Stadium. Chase Line services are suspended.
“Road transport ordered Tame Bridge Parkway to Walsall and all stations Walsall to Rugeley TV.”
Valid rail tickets were also accepted on various bus routes throughout the area.
Passengers travelling between Birmingham New Street and Rugeley Trent Valley were also told they could journey via Lichfield Trent Valley or Stafford using West Midlands Railway.
