Edinburgh Waverley Station was evacuated after a fire alarm sounded, and ScotRail closed the line, stopping services to and from Edinburgh. Travellers and rail passengers were left outside the station while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended reports of a fire.
A warning message told passengers to leave the station immediately using the next available exit and not to use the lifts. The evacuation pushed a large crowd of travellers onto Princes Street as crews assessed the station.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received the first call at 6.20pm. One appliance had already arrived and two were en route when crews reached the scene.
ScotRail and Edinburgh Waverley
ScotRail said it was unable to operate any services to or from Edinburgh at that time. That left the station closed while emergency crews worked through the incident inside and around the building.
The immediate problem was not just the alarm itself but the stop placed on the rail line. For passengers, that meant no services moving through Edinburgh Waverley until the station could be checked and cleared for use.
Princes Street crowd outside
People gathered outside on Princes Street after being evacuated, turning the pavement into a waiting area for travellers who had been inside the station moments earlier. Crews had just arrived and had yet to determine the nature of the incident.
That left the key question on the station floor: whether the alarm pointed to an actual fire or triggered a precautionary response. Until the assessment is complete, the line remains closed and services to and from Edinburgh stay halted.
