FIRES on the Thameslink line caused disruption to commuters returning home on Friday evening. The first incident happened at around 5pm at London Bridge Station after rubbish caught on the bottom of a Brighton to Bedford train was set alight by an electri

FIRES on the Thameslink line caused disruption to commuters returning home on Friday evening.

The first incident happened at around 5pm at London Bridge Station after rubbish caught on the bottom of a Brighton to Bedford train was set alight by an electrical spark from the third rail.

The train was stopped by the resulting interruption to the power supply and passengers had to disembark.

Subsequently all Thameslink services were diverted through Herne Hill and Elephant and Castle until the stricken train was removed at around 6.20pm.

Then at 7.25pm, Elephant and Castle station was closed because of a trackside fire, which meant no trains could call there until 8.05pm.

A spokesperson for First Capital Connect said that the incident caused passengers delays of around 10 minutes.