Car fire blocks railway between Wolverhampton and Birmingham - replacement buses being arranged

Trains between Wolverhampton and Birmingham have been cancelled after three vehicles collided and caught fire under a railway bridge.

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Train operators have warned that services could be cancelled, delayed or diverted after the fire started this morning between Wolverhampton and Sandwell & Dudley stations.

Two cars and a van collided where Manor Road becomes Spring Road, in the Ettingshall area of Wolverhampton, before catching fire, with smoke reported to be drifting across the track.

Photos from the scene showed the cars, one of them a dark blue BMW X1, severely damaged from a collision and fire.

West Midlands Fire Service said it was called at around 11.15am, with crews from Bilston and Dudley attending the scene alongside West Midlands Police.

A fire-damaged car on Spring Road, Wolverhampton that's led to trains being stopped

Three vehicles were badly damaged in the incident

The blaze is expected to cause disruption for passengers until the end of the day.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Our teams are waiting until the emergency services can safely provide access to the affected railway bridge

"Once we can properly assess the bridge and any damage, we’ll work on a plan to be able to safely reopen the railway

"We’re sorry to passengers affected.

"Due to the intensity of the fire, we’re also checking rail equipment and cables in the area - early indications show that some of this important equipment may be damage."

The extent of the damage to the cars is clear in this photo. Photo: Bilston Fire Station

While no explanation has been given for the crash, a spokesperson from Bilston Fire Station posted a photo from under the bridge, and said: "Both cars had been fully engulfed in fire. A reminder to the public to be mindful of their driving and the road conditions."

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway (WMR) have said its passengers can use their tickets on West Midlands Metro or National Express West Midlands bus services, along with CrossCountry trains between Stafford and Birmingham. They can also be used on Avanti West Coast trains between Rugby and Wolverhampton.

The crash was under the bridge carrying the railway

Emergency services have been at the scene since around 11.15am

Buses are also replacing WMR trains between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury and London Northwestern Railway trains between Stafford and Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent due to a lack of units.

A WMR spokesperson said: "Due to the line fire, many units are left stranded. Services between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton will be covered by rail replacement services."

Transport for Wales (TfW) has also requested road replacement transport, with an update on National Rail saying: "Limited replacement road transport is operating between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. These will not run to booked times but will shuttle between stations."

A TfW spokesperson added: "Ticket acceptance has been agreed with West Midlands Railway between Hereford and Birmingham New Street for passengers travelling from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street."

Avanti West Coast passengers have been told they can use their tickets on CrossCountry and West Midlands Railway services via any reasonable route.

CrossCountry has said its passengers can use their tickets on West Midlands Railway services.

PhThe fire comes hours after an unrelated blaze at Bescot Stadium led to signalling cables being damaged, preventing trains from running between Birmingham New Street, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley.