Blaze closes key rail line

Thousands of commuters today faced more misery after services on one of London's busiest commuter lines were cancelled following a trackside blaze.

All WAGN trains between Gordon Hill and Alexandra Palace have been suspended, after a gas main at the side of the railway in Palmers Green ignited last night.

Firefighters said the cause was not believed to be suspicious.

WAGN spokesman David Hamilton said: "The blaze has caused significant damage to the track area. We have laid on replacement bus and shuttle train services."

The shutdown comes after commuters on the West Coast main line were urged yesterday to go on holiday while engineering work between Euston and Milton Keynes is carried out.

Silverlink, which runs services on the affected stretch, said: "Many commuters may prefer to arrange their holidays around this period."