A small fire under a train led to the evacuation of Gatwick Airport railway station this afternoon (Monday 6 January).
Several hundred passengers were sent to the airport’s south terminal after a loud bang was heard and smoke and flames were seen.
Firefighters were called in response to the fire which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault at about 12.30pm.
By mid-afternoon trains were running again although passengers were warned to except delays of up to 45 minutes and some cancellations.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 12.34pm we were alerted to a small fire involving a passenger train at Gatwick railway station.
“Crews from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Gatwick Fire and Rescue Service were sent to the scene.
“Upon arrival, crews found that the undercarriage of the train had caught fire. Fortunately, it was quickly extinguished before spreading any further.
“The fire is believed to be of accidental ignition, caused by an electrical fault.
“All passengers were quickly escorted off the train and the railway station was evacuated at the time of the fire.
“There are no reports of any injuries.”
BBC5 Live presenter Clare McDonnell was on the Brighton to Victoria train and told BBC Radio Sussex that the fire appeared to have started when the train pulled into Gatwick.
She said: “There was a loud bang in the carriage next to me. I looked out of the window and I saw sparks flying and people on the platform running away.
“There was a lot of smoke and a lot of announcements saying: ‘Everybody get off the train. Get off the platform.’”
She said: “As we were going up the stairs, staff were running down with fire extinguishers and telling people to get out of the way. But they were brilliant and people stayed calm.”
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services, said: “Today, at around 12.30pm, we quickly and safely evacuated one of our Southern services at Gatwick Airport station after smoke was seen coming from underneath the train.
“The fire brigade extinguished a small fire believed to have been caused by an electrical fault and trains are stopping at the station again.
“We’re sincerely sorry to passengers held up as a result. Anyone whose journey has been delayed by 15 minutes or more can claim compensation at one of our websites.”
