Melbourne commuter train roof ‘explodes’ close to Flinders St station

THE roof of a packed Melbourne peak hour train “exploded” close to Flinders St station this morning, leading to commuter chaos.

PEAK hour passengers have been forced to evacuate a train after an electrical fault caused an explosion on the train’s roof just outside Melbourne’s Flinders St station on Thursday morning.

Footage of the incident shows a large explosion close to the overhead wires with the roof of the carriage appearing to be on fire.

Commuters reportedly rushed to the back of the Metro train when its power line connectors exploded. The top of the first carriage saw the impact of the spark. Passengers were forced to evacuate the stricken track by climbing onto the track and walking to safety.

VIDEO: New footage of sparks flying from city train as passengers evacuate carriages between stations https://t.co/chUHRtHOqG pic.twitter.com/KNq1H59160

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) August 2, 2017

The train was stopped between Batman Ave and Flinders Street Station, on the Sandringham line.

However, the Melbourne Fire Brigade has denied there was a fire on the train.

A spokeswomen said, “It was an overhead wire issue, it was electrical, the train was not on fire.” Firefighters arrived after the train’s power connectors exploded first at 7.21am, and then again about 20 minutes later.

Passengers on a Metro train are forced to climb off the train after reports of a fire were seen from the train travelling to Flinders st station in Melbourne, Thursday August 3, 2017.(AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Passengers forced to leave the stricken train.(AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Herald Sun digital editor Nathaniel Bane was on the train directly behind. As his service was about to arrive at Flinders St the lights went out suddenly as the train lost power.

“We were in darkness for a moment then the emergency lights came on,” he said.

“The driver came on pretty quick and said there was an issue with the train ahead, it was stuck under the Batman Bridge because of an electrical fault, and we were going nowhere.”

off we get #metrotrains @metrotrains #metrofail pic.twitter.com/48P85pORPM

— Nathaniel Bane (@natbane) August 2, 2017

A Metro Trains spokeswoman said there had been an “issue” on a train between Richmond and Flinders Street with delays to the Sandringham line.

Commuters tweeting from the stricken train labelled the incident another #metrofail.

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