Overnight Train Fire at Seinäjoki Station Causes Delays
A fire broke out in the battery compartment of a passenger car on an overnight train stopped at Seinäjoki railway station in the early hours of Thursday morning. The incident, which occurred around 1:33 AM, led to the evacuation of the affected car but resulted in no injuries, according to multiple reports.
A passenger traveling with his family in the burning car described being awakened by the conductor’s shouts. "I thought maybe someone was drunk or had come from the dining car, but then I heard that the car was smoking," he told Iltalehti. While no smoke was visible inside the car, thick smoke was observed outside. The conductors swiftly evacuated the 29 passengers in the car, including families with children. "The conductors did a great job; they were sharp," the passenger praised. The families were later allowed to continue their journey in empty cars after the evacuation.
The fire originated in the battery compartment of an older-model passenger car, located beneath the train’s frame. Matti Hietala, duty fire chief of the South Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, confirmed to Iltalehti that one battery sled was completely destroyed. "It’s still smoking at the moment; we’re figuring out the best way to extinguish it completely," Hietala said shortly before 3:00 AM. Six rescue units were dispatched to the scene.
By around 5:30 AM, the rescue department reported that the affected car had been moved to a more remote location in the rail yard, allowing the train to continue its journey (MTV Uutiset). The incident caused a delay of approximately 95 minutes for the night train from Helsinki to Kolari, which carried 230 passengers in total, according to VR’s website.
The rescue department stated that the situation was resolved within two hours, and the track was cleared for normal operations. No further disruptions were reported.
