Massive blaze next to train station causes commuter chaos

Fire crews are working to tackle the blaze at Oulton Broad North Railway Station(Image: Sarah Threadgold )

Firefighters battled through the night with a major blaze that tore through a restaurant on the platform of a busy train station, causing rush hour cancellations.

Oulton Broad North railway station, in Suffolk, saw a fire break out in the early hours of Thursday (April 9), leading emergency crews to warn residents to stay away from the area.

Crews were called shortly after midnight to reports of a fire in a commercial building at the station, where they arrived to find the roof of the on‑site restaurant well alight. Firefighters from Lowestoft North and South were supported by colleagues from Norfolk, along with an aerial platform from Yarmouth, while police and ambulance teams also attended.

By 6am the flames had been brought under control, though crews remain on scene to damp down hotspots. Roads around the station are beginning to reopen, but Suffolk County Council has asked residents to avoid the area due to congestion caused by the large emergency response.

Rail services through the station have been halted, with Greater Anglia confirming that tickets will be accepted on local bus routes between Lowestoft, Norwich and Great Yarmouth until trains resume.

"After a serious fire at Oulton Broad North caused severe damage to a building at the station, overnight, trains are unable to run through the station," a spokesperson for National Rail said, with cancellations expected until 10am. "The Fire Brigade, Police and Network Rail engineers are on site, ensuring that the fire has been extinguished, investigating and looking to make all structures on the station safe."

A spokesperson for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: "6:00am update - the fire is now out, and crews remain on the scene to hot spot the area. Crews from Norfolk are departing, and we thank them for their support. Roads around the station are reopening now, but local residents are being asked to avoid the area if possible.

"Fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a commercial building at Oulton Broad North Railway Station. Upon arrival crews were faced with a roof fire within a restaurant based within the Railway station on the platform."