Bulwell: Tram fire disrupts services during rush hour

Services between Bulwell Forest and Hucknall were suspended for about an hour

A Nottingham tram was evacuated during rush hour after a small fire.

Nottingham Express Transit (NET), which operates the tram service, said the fire was detected on a service at the Moor Bridge stop, in Bulwell, shortly after 08:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Smoke was spotted coming from near the wheels and the fire was extinguished by the driver of the tram, NET said.

Services were suspended between Bulwell Forest and Hucknall but resumed at about 09:00.

Driver alerted

No injuries were reported and an investigation into the cause of the fire is now under way.

Roy Clarke was a passenger on the tram at the time.

He said: "It was at the very rear and appeared to be the brakes, definitely an electrical issue.

"I saw a schoolgirl tapping on the driver's door telling him about the flames, everyone got off sharpish. The driver had a fire extinguisher."

A NET spokesperson commented: "We can confirm that shortly after 8.00am this morning, a tram was halted at the Moor Bridge stop after the driver spotted smoke coming from one of the vehicle's bogies.

"As a precaution, customers were safely evacuated from the tram, and a small external fire was quickly extinguished by the driver before the arrival of the fire service.

"An investigation into the exact cause is now under way, and we would like to apologise for the brief disruption to services between Bulwell Forest and Hucknall.

"Trams are now running through to all destinations."