KNUTSFORD railway station was closed on Sunday after a fire broke out underneath a train.

Services, run by Northern, were stopped between Chester and Manchester in both directions while firefighters tackled the blaze.

The fire, which saw crews from Knutsford, Wilmslow, Northwich and Altrincham, broke out at around midday on Sunday, November 27.

Alec Charles, head of media at the University of Chester who was travelling on the train, said: “The fire broke out in the back carriage. I was sitting in the front carriage but had smelt smoke for a few minutes.

“When the train got into Knutsford one of the train staff came into our carriage at 11.55am shouting at the ticket inspector that he needed help to evacuate the back carriage.

“A few minutes later our carriage was evacuated.  There was a lot of smoke coming from the back of the train. Flames were visible at the underside of the carriage.

“We were told to move to the station’s ticket hall. Then we were moved to up the steps to the road and then to the station car park.”

Firefighters used a hose reel jet and a main jet to put out the flames and were at the scene for around an hour and a half.

A spokesman for Northern said: “Shortly after 12pm on Sunday, November 27 a small fire was reported underneath the rear carriage of the 11.02 Chester to Manchester Piccadilly service.

“The service had just arrived at Knutsford station and Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service attended to assist in extinguishing the fire and ensuring all passengers left the train safely.

"Onward travel was provided for all passengers wishing to continue their journey.

“The train remains at Knutsford and work will continue this morning to remove it from the lines. Services in the area remain affected by the incident and passengers are advised to check amended timetables prior to travel.”

“At this stage we are still working to determine exactly what caused the fire and our internal investigation will continue.”

Alec said that although no one was hurt during the ordeal, many passengers were ‘increasingly annoyed’ with the lack of communication from the company’s staff and officials at the station.