A FIRE at an abandoned property has sparked rail chaos for Bank Holiday passengers travelling in and out of Glasgow.
Firefighters battled a blaze at the derelict Station Hotel in Ayr and services running through the station, which connects Ayrshire with Glasgow have been disrupted.
Seven fire engines were sent to the scene and crews remain on the scene to ensure the area is safe.
Rail replacement bus services are running, ScotRail confirmed, as they said train services to and from the town were cancelled to allow emergency crews to extinguish the fire.
ScotRail’s official Twitter account said on Sunday: “We've had reports the emergency services are attending a fire in a property near the railway at Ayr. The station has been evacuated as a precaution.
@ayrshire_live station hotel on fire pic.twitter.com/4tRoH7AHRy
— amanda guffie (@AmandaGuffie) May 28, 2023
“Train services to and from Ayr will be disrupted until the fire service declare the area safe.”
Stagecoach buses will accept ScotRail tickets, the rail operator said.
Glasgow Central to Ayr services have been terminated and will be started back from Kilwinning, ScotRail added. Stranraer to Ayr services will be delayed or revised.
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to customers who have been inconvenienced as a result of this incident.
“Customers delayed by 30 minutes or more are entitled to claim compensation through our Delay Repay Guarantee.
“Passengers who are planning on travelling through the affected area can check the status of their journey using JourneyCheck -ScotRail."
A fire service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 3.36pm on Sunday, May 28 to reports of a fire within a vacant premises in Ayr.
"Operations control mobilised seven fire appliances to the town's Smith Street where firefighters were met by a fire on the building's ground floor.
"Firefighters currently remain on the scene working to make the area safe.
"There are no casualties."
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