Train passengers evacuated on rail tracks after fire plunges route into darkness

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Stunned passengers had to evacuate a train 40 seconds away from an Ayrshire station - after a fire at an Ayr hotel wreaked chaos on the railway.Commuters travelling on board a service from Ayr to Glasgow were forced to disembark - via ladders - just yards from Kilwinning, before walking along the tracks to the platform.The dramatic move came after the train had ground to a half for two hours on Monday amidst a major fire, 25 minutes along the track at the Station Hotel in Ayr.The huge blaze sparked an instant shutdown of services - with trains plunged into darkness as the power was cut to keep passengers safe.Passengers on board the 6pm service from Irvine to Kilwinning were just about to arrive at Kilwinning before the service instantly stopped.Passenger Kenny Hepburn from Kilwinning has told how the packed train was forced to wait two hours before they could walk the rest of the 40 second journey.

Kenny, 46, told Ayrshire Live: "It was surreal. We were literally 40 seconds from Kilwinning, but we ended up stuck there for two hours.“I was on the 6pm from Irvine I finally got to Kilwinning at 8.10pm.“I live in Kilwinning and it was funny that I could see my house through the trees but couldn't get home. “As we were approaching the train was going at its usual speed, then it just slowed right down before coming to a stop.“The drive came on the public address system to say there had been a power outage due to a fire at Ayr and that they would provide updates."Kenny has praised the ticket conductor and driver for providing reassurance to anxious passengers as the train was plunged into darkness at nightfall.