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Train fire closes major station Train fire closes major station
(30 minutes later)
A major railway station was evacuated after reports of a fire in a train.A major railway station was evacuated after reports of a fire in a train.
Smoke was seen coming from a train at about 1840 BST at Birmingham New Street station, a spokesman for British Transport Police said. Smoke was seen coming from a train at about 1840 BST at Birmingham New Street station, British Transport Police said.
Thousands of commuters were told to leave trains and were guided to the car park while shops and the station concourse were closed. Thousands were told to leave trains while shops and the station concourse were closed, but Network Rail said all platforms were reopened by 2000 BST.
However, more than half the platforms re-opened at 1920 BST as firefighters investigated the incident. A small fire was found in the exhaust of a train, which was then moved from a platform to an isolated piece of track, the fire service said.
Network Rail said a fire was reported on an Arriva cross country service as it entered New Street. Network Rail said the fire had been reported on an Arriva Cross Country service as it entered New Street.
A spokesman said some trains were having to wait outside the station and apologised for any inconvenience. Ruth Johnson, who was walking along the platform and saw the fire on the roof of the train, said the incident did not look immediately serious.
He said: "Hopefully passengers will realise it's in their best interests that we make their safety our main priority. "There were people sitting on the train directly below the fire on the roof, completely oblivious to it," she said.
"We've done our best to minimise disruption. "The station attendants then realised the seriousness of the situation and one of them hit the fire alarm.
"The station staff have seen no immediate evidence of a fire on the train. "He then ran along the platform, banging on the windows telling people to get out."
"But the fire brigade has been called and will confirm whether there has been a fire." West Midlands Fire Service said about 20 firefighters were called to the incident.
Fire service spokesman Nigel Sowden said: "Some of the electrics at the station had to be isolated before fire service personnel were allowed near to the train."
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