Rail route reopens after fire

One of the country's busiest railway lines has reopened following a fire on a freight train.

The fire, on a 25-carriage train carrying Peugeot and Citroen vans, closed the West Coast Main Line for most of Friday after breaking out at 0130 BST.

Two of the carriers were well ablaze when the train was stopped near Oxenholme, near Kendal, Cumbria, after the driver of a passing train raised the alarm.

Initially, firefighters were prevented from tackling the fire until the 25,000 volt overhead power lines were switched off.

There were no reported injuries, but 12 Peugeot and Citroen vehicles and two railway freight cars were destroyed, said police.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the line had been reopened early on Friday afternoon.

The fire was spotted by another train driver shortly after 0130 BST on Friday.

The 25-carriage train was the 2137 BST from Washwood Heath in Birmingham travelling to Bathgate near Edinburgh.

Fire brigade sub-officer Ian Garnett said: "The vehicles were well alight - the tyres were exploding, the airbags were all going off. It was like fireworks when we arrived."

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, but it is thought it started inside one of the vans.