London's Holborn Underground station evacuated as smoke fills platform after 'loud bang'

London’s Holborn Underground station was evacuated at the height of the morning rush hour on Tuesday after passengers reported hearing a “loud bang” and smoke began to fill the platform.

A number of passengers reported on social media that they heard a loud bang before being told to leave the station after smoke began filling the carriage of a Central Line train.

Writing on Twitter, passenger Sarah Marshall said “There was smoke at one end of the station, a high pitched bang and a smell”.

“Lots of people ran but others encouraged people to walk and situation was calm”, she said. “The scary thing was people running by but it quickly became calm”.

Officials said the incident was due to a faulty train at the station in London’s West End, which is served by Central and Piccadilly line services.

“We’re working to reopen Holborn underground station after a defective train caused an evacuation”, British Transport Police said.

London Fire Brigade confirmed it was investigating. “Firefighters are investigating reports of smoke on the platform at Holborn underground station. Two fire engines and 10 firefighters there,” a spokesman said.

The incident comes amid a morning of trouble for the capital’s commuters, with a derailed train at Waterloo causing severe delays and two people left injured after a train crashed into buffers at King’s Cross station.

This post will be updated shortly.