ONE man died and another suffered severe burns when a fire broke out on a train in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Swanscombe, near Dartford.

Rescue crews raced to the blaze which broke out deep inside a tunnel linking Swanscombe with Essex under the Thames.

The incident involved a maintenance locomotive which burst into flames at about 7pm last night one mile inside the tunnel. More than 50 firefighters from Kent and Essex, wearing breathing apparatus, tackled the flames from both ends of the tunnel.

Kent firefighters were transported by train along an adjacent tunnel from the sidings beside the Manor Way Business Park in Swanscombe. Because there was no access to water, fire extinguishers were used.

The blaze was quickly brought under control and one man, believed to be the driver of the maintenance train, was taken to Darent Valley Hospital suffering 90 per cent burn injuries.

Crews continued to search the tunnel for a second man late into the night. He was eventually located at about 1am some 300m from the train and confirmed dead at the scene.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was launched this morning as stunned fellow workers turned up to pay their respects.

Once completed, the stretch of track is not due to be used by Eurostar until 2007.

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