AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a fire on a busy Newcastle Metro train, which broke out after a 1,500-volt live cable failed.

A carriage on the train was filled with smoke, leading passengers to force open emergency doors. Elderly travellers had to be helped to safety and ten firefighters were called to dampen down the heat.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), conducting inquiries into the incident, said questions would be asked about the Metro’s emergency door equipment, which some passengers found difficult to operate.

Communication between staff and passengers and maintenance of the Metro system would also be examined, the RAIB said.

The train was pulling out of South Gosforth station towards the coast shortly after 2pm on January 8 when an electrical fault caused a fire to break out under the rear car, which was carrying 45 people.

The train stopped and an overhead wire fell onto the roof of the carriage. While nobody was hurt in the incident, Metro services were cancelled for several hours as engineers worked to restore power.

Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said in a statement last night: “The Tyne and Wear Metro has an exemplary safety record over the last 32 years. Safety is the top priority.

“Both Nexus and our operations contractor, DBTW, are co-operating fully with the RAIB investigation into this incident. We will comment further once the findings and recommendations are published.”

Sharon Kelly, Director of Customer Services at DB Regio Tyne and Wear, which operates the Metro on behalf of Nexus, said: “Safety on the Metro is of utmost importance to us.

“We are working with the RAIB and providing as much assistance as possible during the investigation into the incident on January 8.”