Arsonists behind £500k blaze at a railway station

A HUGE fire which ripped through a train station is thought to have been caused by wheelie bins which were deliberately set alight.

The blaze at Moorside Station in the early hours of February 17 came just weeks after it had been reopened following an extensive refurbishment.

It caused more than £500,000 of damage and left the building completely out of use for an indefinite period.

Now, the British Transport Police have released further details about what they believe happened on the night.

In a statement, the force said: “Firefighters were called to the recently refurbished station following reports of a fire.

“The ticket office was well ablaze on their arrival and the total cost of damage is estimated to be more than £500,000. The source of the fire is believed to be two blue wheelie bins that were set ablaze and then moved into the empty ticket office.”

Moorside underwent improvement works under Northern’s ‘Better Stations’ project, which included a new booking office being rebuilt and a new ticket machine being installed.

But in the days following the fire bosses at the train firm explained that the booking office and hall inside the station were extensively damaged.

As these are the only way to access the platforms, the station is expected to be closed for the ‘foreseeable future’.

Customers have been advised to use Swinton station instead.

● Contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference 31 of February 17.