A train travelling from Derby to Glasgow was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon after a fire broke out beneath one of its carriages. The incident occurred shortly after the train departed Derby station at approximately 13:11 BST, when an alarm was triggered and smoke was reported coming from the front of the train.
Cross Country trains confirmed that a small fire had ignited underneath a carriage, prompting the evacuation of all 175 passengers. Passengers were guided onto the tracks to safety, according to BBC journalist Dave Tracz, who was on board and documented the incident on social media.
Some passengers expressed frustration with the response. Matt Navarra, another passenger, criticised the train company's initial two-word apology, stating: 'Is that all you're going to say about my train going up in flames filling carriage with smoke and endangering my life?'
A spokesperson for Cross Country trains said all passengers were safely evacuated as a precaution and transported back to Derby. The train will be moved to a depot for a full technical investigation once cleared. East Midlands Trains reported disruption to services on routes to Nottingham, Derby, and Matlock.
