Nottingham railway station gulf out fire causes chaos, people were evacuated from station [photos]

A massive fire blaze has closed Nottingham railway station, causing major disruption.At its peak 10 fire crews were tackling the fire, which began at about 06:30 GMT.

Flames were seen coming from the station's roof and smoke filled the foyer, prompting the building's evacuation.

All train services have been suspended and a number of roads have been closed.

Incident commander Bryn Coleman, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said crews faced "arduous" conditions when they arrived to tackle the "severe" fire that spread across the concourse.

He said crews were still inside and trying to contain the fire between the new part of the station and the main building, describing the operation as "difficult and protracted".

He added that the fire was believed to have started in a toilet.

Nottingham Fire and Rescue tweeted a picture from inside the building
British Transport Police said it was an "ongoing incident" and could not say when the station would reopen.

East Midlands Trains said while no-one was injured and everyone was accounted for, all services, including trains to London St Pancras, Liverpool, Leicester and Norwich, have been disrupted.

About 4,600 passengers arrive at Nottingham station during each weekday morning between 07:00 and 10:00, according to the Department for Transport.

The station has recently undergone a £50m redevelopment, incorporating a new tram bridge, including the restoration and upgrade of its Edwardian grade II-listed front building.


Eyewitness Sarah McMullan said she saw smoke coming from a toilet at the station's car park.
"You don't think much of it when there's a little bit of smoke and police already there, but then we were evacuated," she said.

"It was pretty frightening to see how quickly a fire can grow. You can see billowing smoke and flames above the roof on the far side."

Radio Nottingham's Andy Whittaker said he saw "thick plumes of black smoke" coming from the station.

He said many people were left waiting outside the building after being told to leave.
Fire filled foyer at train station

Dr Remigius Ilione, 49, said: "I drove into the car park and I could already hear the fire alarm.
"The smoke was so thick that you could not see in front of you."

Queens Road and Carrington Street have been closed in both directions which created heavy traffic on surrounding routes, especially on London Road and Radcliffe Road.

There have also been reports of 40-minute delays on bus services. A tram service has also been disrupted into the city due to a separate incident.