A fire near Euston station has caused major disruption to UK rail services after a large blaze broke out at a commercial building close to the railway line in Camden, north London, forcing the suspension of services on the West Coast Main Line and leaving thousands of passengers facing delays and cancellations.
The fire broke out on Friday morning at a single-storey commercial building near Regent’s Park Road, close to key railway infrastructure serving London Euston.
National Rail Enquiries confirmed that lines between London Euston and Watford Junction were blocked due to the proximity of the blaze, significantly affecting one of the busiest rail routes in the country.
Passengers travelling between London and major cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow were among those worst affected.
Rail operators warned that services were being cancelled or delayed by up to an hour as emergency crews worked to bring the fire under control and ensure the safety of the railway.
The London Fire Brigade said it was first alerted to the incident at 9:31am and immediately dispatched emergency crews to the scene.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, which spread rapidly and also affected a neighbouring property.
Firefighters from Kentish Town, Holloway and West Hampstead fire stations were mobilised following multiple emergency calls.
An LFB spokesperson said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a fire on Regent’s Park Road in Chalk Farm. A single storey commercial building is alight. Most of a neighbouring property is also alight.”
Residents living near the scene described heavy smoke and difficult conditions as the fire intensified. One local resident said: “The roof of the building has now burnt down. It’s been extremely smoky with limited visibility at times.”
Fire crews used specialist equipment, including a 32-metre turntable ladder, to fight the blaze from above as they worked to prevent it spreading further and to protect nearby homes and railway infrastructure.
Roads in the area, including Adelaide Road between Winchester Road and Haverstock Hill, were closed as emergency services secured the scene.
National Rail said the fire had also disrupted power supplies to the railway, worsening delays across multiple routes. In a statement, the operator said: “The fire brigade dealing with an incident near the railway between London Euston and Watford Junction means that some lines are blocked.”
It added: “as a result, trains running between Clapham Junction / London Euston and Watford Junction, between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford (London) and also between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.”
The disruption affected several train operators, including Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway, London Overground and Southern.
Avanti West Coast services heading towards London were reported to be held at stations as far north as Warrington, Cheshire, as congestion spread along the route.
Passengers were advised to check their journeys before travelling and to expect ongoing disruption throughout the day. Rail authorities confirmed that affected passengers would be able to use their tickets on certain alternative routes, although limited capacity meant delays were unavoidable for many.
London Euston station experienced congestion as delayed and cancelled services led to overcrowding and uncertainty for travellers awaiting further updates. Rail staff worked to manage passenger flow and provide information as services remained disrupted.
The London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire is not yet known and will be investigated once the incident is fully under control. Control officers confirmed that multiple emergency calls were received shortly after the first alert, prompting a large-scale response.
In a further statement, the brigade said: “Due to the fire’s proximity to the railway, some lines between London Euston and Watford Junction are subject to delays or cancellation. Please avoid the area while the incident is ongoing.”
Transport officials warned that disruption could continue while engineers assess damage to rail infrastructure and power systems. Passengers were urged to monitor official rail updates and allow extra time for their journeys.
The fire near Euston station once again highlights how incidents close to major transport hubs can have nationwide consequences, with knock-on effects spreading rapidly across the UK rail network as emergency services and transport authorities work to restore normal operations.
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