West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed that a passenger train's engine failure caused a blaze that led to the evacuation of Birmingham New Street station on Friday, July 10. The incident prompted widespread delays and cancellations for commuters.
Details of the Incident
Firefighters were called to the travel hub at around 7am following reports of a fire on a train. The fire service stated that the train suffered from engine failure, which filled several platforms with smoke. As a precaution, the entire station was evacuated.
Crews from Aston, Bournbrook, and Highgate Fire Stations responded, with first units arriving in under five minutes. The train was shut down before their arrival, and firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to check for hotspots in the engine cab, which had already begun to cool.
Impact on Services
The evacuation and firefighting efforts caused significant disruption to train services in and out of New Street. Many services were delayed or cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers during the morning rush hour. Most platforms were reopened after crews ensured the scene was safe.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "Around 7am on Friday, West Midlands Fire Service received reports of a fire at Birmingham New Street train station. The incident involved a passenger train suffering from engine failure, which filled a number of platforms with smoke. As a precaution, Birmingham New Street was evacuated. The train was shut down prior to our crews' arrival, where they made sure the train and carriages were safe, using thermal imaging cameras to identify hotspots in the engine cab which had thankfully started to cool. Crews remained on site in an advisory capacity, with most platforms reopened. We understand that this will have caused concern and inconvenience for passengers and we are very grateful for the public's understanding while we carried out our duties."
Response and Aftermath
No injuries were reported, and the fire service praised the public's cooperation during the evacuation. The cause of the engine failure is under investigation by the train operating company. Birmingham New Street returned to normal operations later that day, though residual delays continued into the afternoon.
