Sleeper train service evacuated after smoke spotted

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene in Fife.
Guests and staff were taken off the train as a precaution (Jane Barlow/PA)
PA Archive
Lucinda Cameron15 September 2021

Passengers and staff have been evacuated from a Caledonian Sleeper service after smoke started coming from it.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a fire on a passenger train at Cupar station in Fife at 5.46am on Wednesday.

Three fire engines went to the scene and there were no reports of any casualties.

Caledonian Sleeper said one of the locomotives pulling its northbound Highlander service to Aberdeen suffered a technical issue on Wednesday morning, resulting in “damage to some underframe electrical cables and some smoke”.

The company said that all guests and staff were safely taken off the train at Cupar as a precaution, and were completing their journeys by alternative transport.

We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused our guests and other rail users

Caledonian Sleeper

Rail services were disrupted as no trains were able to run through the area during the incident, but the line reopened later in the morning.

Network Rail Scotland tweeted: “The route between Dundee and Ladybank has now fully reopened in both directions.

“Thanks for your patience while the emergency services dealt with an incident.”

The train had left London at 9.15pm on Wednesday.

A Caledonian Sleeper spokesman said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused our guests and other rail users.

“The passenger coaches were unaffected, and the defective locomotive has been removed from the train and returned to our maintenance facility.

“All of tonight’s Caledonian Sleeper services are due to run as scheduled.”

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