Nottingham station fire: Firefighters tackling huge blaze as rail travellers face widespread delays

Flames erupt from roof sending black smoke billowing into sky

Firefighters are battling a huge blaze at Nottinghamshire train station.

Flames were seen erupting from the roof, while thick black smoke billowed into the station foyer and out into the surrounding streets.

A cordon was in place around the building and trains were stopped from entering or leaving the building, triggering travel chaos across the country.

The fire and rescue service said around 10 fire engines and around 50 firefighters were responding to the blaze, which started in the concourse area before spreading to the roof.

Crews arrived at 6.30 on Friday morning to a "significant fire" that was travelling across the main lines of the station, Bryn Coleman from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC.

Firefighters were working in "arduous conditions" and it would take a "considerable amount of time" for them to bring the fire under control, he added.

In an update issued shortly after 10am, Mr Coleman said the train station was likely to be closed for the rest of the day on Friday.

The fire caused widespread cancellations and delays.

East Midlands Trains warned: “Please do not travel to Nottingham station this morning as trains will be unable to run and we are unable to provide road transport to/from the station.

CrossCountry Trains tweeted: “Due to a fire at Nottingham station, our trains cannot run between Derby & Nottingham.

“We are trying to source alternative transport at present.”

“We expect trains to be disrupted on all routes through Nottingham for the whole of Friday 12 January,” said East Midlands Trains, which is the main operator at the station.

The firm said that affected passengers could use services on Virgin Trains (East Coast or West Coast), Transpennine Express, CrossCountry, London Midland and Greater Anglia, using any reasonable route.