Train catches fire, passengers safe

A passenger's picture of smoke from an engine underneath the train after he was evacuated from his smoke-filled carriage. Picture / Brad Stent

A passenger train caught fire just before reaching Auckland's main train station this morning.

The fire broke out in an engine underneath one of the four passenger carriages about 200m before the entrance to the Britomart station tunnel just after 9.04am.

Train operator Connex said the driver put out the blaze with extinguishers before the fire service arrived as about 50 passengers in the back carriage fled from the train.

The south-eastern line train with about 200 passengers on board stopped near the old train station, adjacent to Quay Street, for about 35 minutes while they waited for a safety clearance.

Services on the southern line were already running about 20 minutes late before the train left Papakura for Auckland.

The fire caused further delays as trains were stopped from entering Britomart for about 15 minutes until the all clear was given.

Some passengers caught up in the delays were irate and one man was heard yelling in the middle of the Britomart "make sure you all complain, this is outrageous."

Connex spokesperson said they could understand the frustration from some passengers but others had complimented the company on its evacuation procedures.

- Newstalk ZB and Herald