East Coast train evacuated after fire breaks out in engine

MORE than 50 passengers and crew had to be evacuated from a train on the East Coast Main Line after a small fire broke out in one of the engines.

The train was evacuated just south of York station. File picture: Contributed

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said crews were called out to the stricken service just south of York station, near the city’s racecourse.

A spokesman said 54 passengers and four staff were helped from the train, on to a replacement service.

He said: “When crews arrived, they confirmed a fire had occurred on an express passenger train.

“The fire was in the rear engine. It was extinguished by the train’s own fire prevention system.”

He added: “However, the decision was made to assist with the evacuation of 54 passengers and four staff on to a second train and transport them back to York rail station.

“Fire and rescue crews cooled the rear engine using two foam extensions and checked for residual heat with a thermal image camera.”

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