Major Fire in Camden Forces Partial Closure of West Coast Mainline
A substantial fire in Camden, north London, has led to the partial closure of a key section of the West Coast Mainline, causing significant disruption to rail services across England on Friday. The blaze, which broke out in the morning, has impacted thousands of journeys, with multiple train operators reporting cancellations and delays.
Fire Brigade Response and Scene Details
The London Fire Brigade was alerted to the incident at 9.31am on Friday, dispatching ten fire engines and approximately seventy firefighters to Regent's Park Road in Camden. At the height of the fire, a single-storey commercial building and much of a neighbouring property were engulfed in flames. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by authorities.
Local resident William Selas, 40, of Adelaide Road, described witnessing extensive fire and smoke from his bedroom window earlier in the day. He expressed concern, noting the large number of firefighters at the scene and hoping the situation would be contained without necessitating evacuation.
Widespread Rail Disruption Across England
National Rail has confirmed that some lines on the West Coast Mainline are blocked between London Euston and Watford Junction due to the fire. This closure has severely affected services operated by Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway, London Overground, and Southern. Reports indicate that Avanti West Coast services heading to London were held at stations as far north as Warrington in Cheshire, highlighting the extensive reach of the disruption.
Passengers facing cancellations or delays are advised that they can use their tickets on certain alternative routes, as per standard disruption protocols. The incident underscores the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure to unforeseen events, with commuters and travellers experiencing widespread inconvenience.
As firefighters continue to tackle the aftermath, rail operators are working to restore normal service, but significant delays are expected to persist throughout the day. The community in Camden remains on alert as investigations into the fire's origin proceed.
