Flames engulfed Paignton railway station at 5:45 AM BST, sparking a major blaze that has crippled train services and brought chaos to the area. Seven fire crews battled the inferno throughout the morning, with all trains between Newton Abbot and Paignton cancelled or suspended.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed that the railway line is blocked due to the fire, severely disrupting services to Torre, Torquay, and Paignton stations. Disruption is anticipated to last until at least 2:00 PM BST today, with passengers urged to check for updates before setting off.
In a bid to alleviate the travel chaos, GWR has arranged for train tickets to be accepted on Stagecoach bus routes 11, 12, and 22. These buses provide vital connections between key locations including Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay, and Paignton. A limited rail replacement bus service is also operating between Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay, and Paignton, although the timing of this service remains unpredictable.
The fire has not only ravaged the railway station but also brought significant road closures to the local area. Torbay Road is closed in both directions between Queens Road and Victoria Street, while Victoria Street and Hyde Road are shut to traffic. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area altogether to ease congestion and allow emergency services access.
Residents living near the station have been cautioned to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution against smoke from the fire. The scale of the incident has left emergency services facing an immense challenge in bringing it under control, causing widespread disruption to travel and daily life in Paignton.
CrossCountry passengers holding tickets for affected routes can use GWR's replacement bus services as an alternative. Further information on travel updates and service changes will be provided by the railway operators.