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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/23/chaos-as-charing-cross-station-is-closed-due-to-gas-leak
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations closed by gas leak | Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations closed by gas leak |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Engineers tackle incident, which also caused evacuation of a London club and hotel | Engineers tackle incident, which also caused evacuation of a London club and hotel |
| Damien Gayle and agencies | Damien Gayle and agencies |
| Tue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMT | Tue 23 Jan 2018 06.49 GMT |
| Last modified on Tue 23 Jan 2018 10.14 GMT | |
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| London’s Charing Cross station has been closed and a wide cordon placed around it after a “large” gas leak prompted the evacuation of a nearby hotel and nightclub. | London’s Charing Cross station has been closed and a wide cordon placed around it after a “large” gas leak prompted the evacuation of a nearby hotel and nightclub. |
| London fire brigade (LFB) said that almost 1,500 people were taken to safety as firefighters helped police at a ruptured gas main in Craven Street, off the Strand, close to Trafalgar Square. | London fire brigade (LFB) said that almost 1,500 people were taken to safety as firefighters helped police at a ruptured gas main in Craven Street, off the Strand, close to Trafalgar Square. |
| The Strand was closed entirely on Tuesday morning and a 150-metre cordon put in place while National Grid engineers tried to isolate the leak. | The Strand was closed entirely on Tuesday morning and a 150-metre cordon put in place while National Grid engineers tried to isolate the leak. |
| One witness described “chaos” at the Heaven nightclub, beneath Charing Cross station, as doormen ordered visitors to leave after the alarm was raised. Guests at the hotel were placed in temporary accommodation. | One witness described “chaos” at the Heaven nightclub, beneath Charing Cross station, as doormen ordered visitors to leave after the alarm was raised. Guests at the hotel were placed in temporary accommodation. |
| London Fire Brigade said it was called to the scene at 2am. Brett Loft, LFB spokesman and station manager at Chelsea, said he could not be sure how long the roads would remain closed, saying it depended on how long it took to find and seal the leak. | London Fire Brigade said it was called to the scene at 2am. Brett Loft, LFB spokesman and station manager at Chelsea, said he could not be sure how long the roads would remain closed, saying it depended on how long it took to find and seal the leak. |
| “It has happened a few times recently. With the ageing pipes in London there is an ongoing programme at the moment to replace all the pipework. It’s just one of those things. It happens.” | “It has happened a few times recently. With the ageing pipes in London there is an ongoing programme at the moment to replace all the pipework. It’s just one of those things. It happens.” |
| Loft said there was no danger to the public. | Loft said there was no danger to the public. |
| Southeastern, the rail company that handles routes into Charing Cross, said some morning trains would be diverted to other destinations, “but there will be cancellations on our Charing Cross routes and also on other lines which share our routes to Charing Cross”. | Southeastern, the rail company that handles routes into Charing Cross, said some morning trains would be diverted to other destinations, “but there will be cancellations on our Charing Cross routes and also on other lines which share our routes to Charing Cross”. |
| Waterloo East station was also closed because trains were unable to turn around on that stretch of line before reaching Charing Cross. Rail services were expected to resume by noon, Southeastern said on its website. | Waterloo East station was also closed because trains were unable to turn around on that stretch of line before reaching Charing Cross. Rail services were expected to resume by noon, Southeastern said on its website. |
| UPDATE: #LondonCharingCross is likely to be closed for some time following a gas leak nearby. The exclusion zone is in place until the emergency services are satisfied it can be lifted. For more information & to check your journey https://t.co/Y82MoNc4dU pic.twitter.com/GSzlmhmJYY | UPDATE: #LondonCharingCross is likely to be closed for some time following a gas leak nearby. The exclusion zone is in place until the emergency services are satisfied it can be lifted. For more information & to check your journey https://t.co/Y82MoNc4dU pic.twitter.com/GSzlmhmJYY |
| A spokesperson for Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure, said: “Both Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations are currently closed owing to a gas leak in a nearby road. We will reopen these stations as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.” | A spokesperson for Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure, said: “Both Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations are currently closed owing to a gas leak in a nearby road. We will reopen these stations as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.” |
| Transport for London tweeted that: “A4 Strand/Northumberland St is closed” between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street. | Transport for London tweeted that: “A4 Strand/Northumberland St is closed” between Trafalgar Square and Bedford Street. |
| Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible”. On wrote on Twitter: “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside.” | Revellers at the Heaven nightclub described trying to leave “as fast as possible”. On wrote on Twitter: “Evacuated from heaven because of a gas leak wow. Literally chaos. Crush on the stairs. Security being knocked aside.” |
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