A huge fire sparked an evacuation at Rayners Lane Underground station, which was started by an e-bike, as the London Fire Brigade rushed to put out the blaze shortly before lunch time.
Passengers at Rayner’s Lane Tube station were told to “stay back” as three fire engines rushed to put out a blaze, sparked by an e-bike.
The fire was reported at about 11.30am this morning, and the entire station was subsequently evacuated. The bike was left destroyed inside the station.
One commuter posted a video on X showing a dismanted e-bike on the platform completely ablaze. The metal frame appeared to be almost entirely melted, on the back half of the bike was non-existent.
Andy Calvert, who recorded the video, wrote on the social media site: “Rayners Lane underground station just now. This is why electric bikes shouldn’t be allowed on the tube.”
A London Fire Brigade statement read: “We were called at around 11.30am today to reports of an e-bike alight on a platform at Rayners Lane Underground Station. Three fire engines attended and firefighters extinguished the fire.
“There have been no reports of any injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
Rayner’s Lane Tube station lies between Pinner and Harrow, and sits on the Metropolitan Line. The entire line was reporting severe delays on Thursday lunchtime, as a result of the fire.
The Piccadilly Line was also affected by the blaze, with severe delays reported between Acton Town and Uxbridge. One person at the station told The Sun how passengers had been told to “stay back” as they were rapidly evacuated.
He said: “We have been told to evacuate the station. There are no trains running.”
The e-bike fire was later extinguished by firefighters, who used extended water hoses to reach onto the platform from outside the station. The bike was subsequently seen smoking, with black ash on the platform in the immediate vicinty.
The latest platform fire follows a major incident earlier this month, where a blaze broke out in a northbound underground tunnel near Waterloo station. Firefighters were called to reports of a “ceramic track support” overheating in the Kennington Tunnels, it said.
It fire was reported right in the middle of morning rush hour, at about 7.37am. The whole northbound tunnel was closed, and the whole of Waterloo Underground station – one of London’s biggest tube stations – was told to evacuate.
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