Central Scotland rail lines open after blast fears

The fire happened next to a railway line

Fears of an explosion after a blaze at an industrial shed caused major disruption to rush hour rail travel across central Scotland.

Services between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunblane, Alloa, Perth and Cumbernauld were hit by the fire in Bonnybridge.

A 200m exclusion zone was set up around the Greenhill Road area because of initial concerns about propane canisters, but has since been lifted.

Normal train services have since resumed.

The fire at an industrial shed, next to a railway line, meant almost all trains in and out of Glasgow Queen Street high level were suspended, with the exception of the Anniesland service.

Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service said the cordon was lifted after it was confirmed the canisters in the shed did not contain any explosive material.

Exclusion zone

Group manager Kenny McIntyre said the fire was well established when they arrived on the scene, and they were there for five and a half hours.

"The information that we received indicated there was a quantity of cylinders on the premises including acetylene. We set up a 200m exclusion zone as a precautionary measure," he said.

"One house was evacuated and other residents were informed of the incident but due to the timing of the incident, several residents were already leaving their homes for work."

BBC Scotland presenter Bill Whiteford lives in the area affected by the fire and was evacuated from his home.

He said: "We're very close the main Glasgow-Edinburgh line. Just to explain why the disruption would be affecting so many services - right here at Greenhill, which is just south of Bonnybridge, is a major Scottish rail junction.

"The lines that go from Glasgow to Falkirk and then Edinburgh, or Glasgow to Dunblane and Perth and Stirling and Aberdeen, they just diverge at Greenhill."