 Eurostar is suspended until Saturday afternoon |
Eurostar and local train services have been cancelled and homes and businesses evacuated in south-west London after a fire at a breakers' yard. The blaze, less than 100m from the track at Pensbury Place near Clapham, was extinguished by Friday afternoon.
But a 200m hazard zone was declared for 24 hours as a gas cylinder was cooled.
Eurostar services to and from Waterloo were suspended until 1700 GMT on Saturday and train services between Victoria and Brixton were also hit.
Eurostar is intending to run a ski train to the Alps on Saturday but it will leave from Ashford and not Waterloo.
A plan to run a train from Brussels to the station in Kent has been cancelled.
Fire crews were called to a fire at the breakers' yard involving three scrapped cars and three tonnes of general scrap at 1330 GMT.
"The fire was quickly put out, but an unidentified cylinder is involved," a London Fire Brigade spokesman said.
"As some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat there is a 200m hazard zone in place whilst the cylinder is being cooled."
Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters were involved in cooling the cylinder.
A Eurostar spokesman said passengers who are unable to travel can exchange tickets within two months, or have their tickets refunded.
The spokesman added: "Because of the risk of gas cylinders exploding, the fire authorities have stated that it will be 24 hours before they can intervene.
 Many rugby fans are amongst those stranded |
"There is no alternative route and therefore, Eurostar regrets that it has no alternative but to suspend its entire operation until Saturday 17 March at 1700 GMT."
Thousands of Scottish rugby fans were thought to be among those stranded in London as a result of the suspension of Eurostar services.
Many were expected to travel to France for the RBS Six Nations match at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.
A Scottish Rugby Union spokesman said: "We are sorry to hear that there has been a fire but most people know that safety comes first.
"We know Scottish supporters are the most resourceful and if they can find a way to get to Paris they will."
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We know Scottish supporters are the most resourceful and if they can find a way to get to Paris they will
