Blaze on Robertsbridge train

Passengers were ordered to leave Charing Cross after a ‘screech and a bang’ around the front carriage of the 10.55am departure to Robertsbridge after it pulled into platform six.

Five fire engines were sent to the scene as passengers screamed and ran for the exit amid false reports of a bomb. No one was hurt, despite the driver being in the cab at the time.

It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Rail operator Southeastern said there were delays of more than two hours on some services as they were diverted to other stations, including London Bridge and Victoria.

Charing Cross London Underground station was closed for 15 minutes but swiftly reopened. The mainline station remained closed until after 1pm.

A Southeastern spokesman said: “It definitely didn’t hit the buffer - it was an electrical problem that’s being investigated now but we suspect it may have been where the train shoes come into contact with the conductor rail to power the train.

“There may have been something that went wrong with that part of the train. That’s being investigated right now by engineers on site.”