RAIL passengers heading to and from York are facing major disruption, after a freight train erupted in flames.

Services between York and Scotland were severely affected, following the fire at Drem, near Edinburgh.

More than 30 cars and vans on board the train were destroyed in the blaze, which was tackled by more than 50 firefighters.

Several services through York have been cancelled, and passengers heading to Edinburgh are having to use replacement buses, adding an average of 90 minutes to their journey.

GNER spokesman John Gelson said: "A freight train was involved in a fire in the Drem area in East Lothian, and as a result of that, the line is currently closed between Berwick and Edinburgh."

He said replacement coaches were running on that part of the route, and the York to Inverness train was being re-routed via Carlisle.

He said ticket restrictions had also been lifted for passengers heading to or from Scotland.

According to the National Rail Enquiries website, cancellations from York include the 11.34am service to London, as were the 11.44am to Bournemouth, the 12noon to London, and the 12.50pm to London.

The blaze broke out at 6.35am this morning.