FIFTY five passengers had to evacuate a train at Chepstow Station on Friday afternoon (September 6) after its front wheels caught fire.

The incident around 3.50pm caused rush hour disruption, with the Severn Tunnel Junction to Gloucester services through Lydney, Chepstow and Caldicot affected for several hours while a safety inspection was carried out.

A National Rail spokesperson said: “Reports of a train fire were on the undercarriage, not in the passenger areas. It was quickly put out with no injuries.

“The issue was with the train rather than the train track.”

The blaze on the Cross Country service from Nottingham via Birmingham New Street was put out by a crew member, and no smoke got into the train’s carriage, they added.

A spokesperson for CrossCountry said: "At around 3.50pm today our 1.07pm service from Nottingham to Cardiff was stopped at Chepstow after smoke was reported from underneath the train.

“All 55 people on board were safely evacuated onto the station and the emergency services attended to ensure there was no risk of fire. Alternative road transport has been arranged to help these customers complete their journeys.

"The line currently remains closed while the train is removed for inspection and customers are advised to check with National Rail Enquiries for details of alterations and diversions."

Kieran Smith, 26, from Warwick, who was on the train heading to a friend’s stag do in Cardiff, told the BBC: “There was a bit of smoke and smell of something odd burning, and we could see some flames on the underside of the train.

"This was when we got to Chepstow and they told us all to get off. But everyone is fine."

He said fire crews turned up as the passengers waited in the station car park.