Gatwick airport evacuation as emergency services scrambled to fire
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London Gatwick train station has been evacuated as emergency services were scrambled to the airport following a fire on a train. Firefighters were called to the “small fire”, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, at 12.34pm on Monday, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said. The train lines were closed but have since reopened.
Trains could be delayed by up to 45 minutes or cancelled, according to the National Rail website. The website added that Gatwick Express services are still suspended and that there is a reduced service between Bedford and Three Bridges. A West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told The Mirror: "A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: "We are currently responding to a small fire involving a passenger train at Gatwick Railway Station, South Terminal.
"Crews from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Gatwick Fire & Rescue Service are at the scene. All passengers are off the train and the railway station has been evacuated. The station is closed while firefighters respond to the incident.". Passenger and BBC5 Live presenter Clare McDonnell shared a video of the incident on X/Twitter. She told the Mirror there was a "white flash on [the outside] of the carriage next to mine as [the] train pulled in.
She added: "Passengers on [the] platform ran away, smoke started to come into [the] carriage next to mine. Announcements [were] made to get off [the]train and off [the] platform. [It was] calm at first then staff started to raise their voices to get people to understand the urgency of the situation.
