Trains in Devon have been cancelled due to a gas leak in Exeter this afternoon, Thursday, January 9. Emergency services are currently responding to the incident in the city centre, with Queen Street evacuated and people told to avoid the area, with a 100m cordon in place.
Great Western Railway has warned passengers that trains between Exeter St Davids and Exmouth are cancelled or delayed due to the gas leak. It said: “Due to a gas leak near the railway at Exeter Central all lines are closed. Disruption is expected until 18:45.
“Owing to a gas leak in a property near the railway we have had to close Exeter Central station and are unable to run trains through there at this time. The Emergency Services are on site and we are awaiting more information from them.
“We are working to source replacement road transport between Exeter St David’s and Exmouth, however as we are not sure of the extent of any road closures in the city centre, we may not be able to stop the transport near Exeter Central.”
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A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: “We were called to Queen Street at 3.53pm after reports of a gas leak from a pipe in a flat. We attended with four fire engines plus a specialist appliance and have set up a 100m cordon with the police from the Rougemont Hotel to the railway side of Exeter College.
“We are standing by awaiting the arrival of Wales and West Utilities and National Grid.”
Describing the scene, an eyewitness told Devon Live: “Everybody else on Queen St has been evacuated. I was parked on Queen Street and it was busy as hell with the usual students and shoppers and suddenly within five minutes the whole road and everything was completely closed off and all the people evacuated. It was so impressive.
“All the firemen were huddled in the bus stop discussing what to do. Then the critical incident van turned up and there were police everywhere. You could smell the gas too. Somebody told me it was the Angel but I couldn’t tell.”
Devon Alert said: “Due to an incident at Exeter Central Train Station, parts of the city centre are closed off to traffic and pedestrians. Please expect delays and find an alternative route if possible.”