Major fire sees buildings evacuated and trains halted - Manchester, 23 June 2025

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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Firefighters are tackling a major blaze at a derelict building in Manchester city centre.

The fire, at the old Hotspur Press printing works on Cambridge Road, is close to Manchester Oxford Road railway station.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said an evacuation of the neighbouring apartment buildings is taking place. It added: "The public are advised to stay away from the area while crews continue to tackle the fire."

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National Rail said all lines were blocked and warned that services running through the station may be cancelled or delayed until 20:00 BST.

TransPennine Express said rail replacement buses had been requested for the following routes:

* Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street in both directions

* Manchester Piccadilly to Preston in both directions

It said that once the lines reopened, people could use their tickets, at no extra cost, on the following services:

* East Midlands Railway between Sheffield and Liverpool Lime Street in both directions

The building, also known as Medlock Mill, has been derelict since shutting down as a printing press in 1996.

Developer Manner's plan to regenerate the historic building into a 36-storey student tower was given planning permission in May 2024.

However, it recently redesigned its proposals and they will now be submitted to Manchester City Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said earlier this month.

[Oxonhutch]

Ouch! That is a seriously intensely used route - akin to Borough Market Jnc in London - and the latter has more than a couple of tracks. Expect severe disruption.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

People evacuated from tower after major fire spread

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A fire that broke out at a landmark Manchester city centre building - causing it to partly collapse - spread to a neighbouring tower block.

Embers from the blaze at Hotspur House reached 1 Cambridge Street, resulting in the evacuation of residents from the building, Greater Manchester Fire And Rescue Service (GMFRS) told the BBC at the scene. However, it added the fire was no longer being treated as a major incident.

Anyone who has nowhere to go is set to be put up overnight by Manchester City Council.

The fire at the former printing press building broke out at about 17:00 GMT, forcing the cancellation of all trains through Manchester Oxford Road station.

The fire service urged the public to stay away from the area and said 20 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were on the scene.

A spokesperson said the blaze had spread to three floors of Hotspur House, and aerial units had been used to bring the fire under control. The spokesman added: "The two apartment blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated. A cordon is in place on Cambridge Street and we ask that the public stay away from the area. Residents nearby should keep doors and windows closed due to smoke in the area."

Footage taken at the scene showed parts of Hotspur House had collapsed.

National Rail said all lines were blocked and warned that services running through the station may be cancelled or delayed until 21:00 BST. It said rail replacement buses were running for Northern customers from Manchester Oxford Road at 18:20 BST and 18:25, calling at all stops to Warrington Central. There have been no further updates on disruption to rail services.

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Buses were also leaving Warrington Central at the same times, calling at all stops to Manchester Oxford Road. A bus will depart Manchester Oxford Road at 19:00, calling at all stops to Earlestown.

TransPennine Express said rail replacement buses had been requested for the following routes:
* Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street in both directions
* Manchester Piccadilly to Preston in both directions

East Midlands Railway said it had bus replacements services on standby at Warrington Central, Stockport and Sheffield.

TransPennine Express said customers at Liverpool Lime Street could use their ticket at no extra cost to travel on TransPennine Express services to Manchester Victoria.

It also advised customers at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road to use the free Transport for Greater Manchester bus link to Manchester Victoria, where they could change for connecting services towards Liverpool.

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[Chris from Nailsea]

A further update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Hotspur Press left a smoking ruin by major fire

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A building on the site of what was believed to be Manchester's oldest mill is now a smouldering ruin after a major fire.

The Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street, close to Manchester Oxford Road railway station, was destroyed by a fire on Monday, leading to its partial collapse.

It resulted in the cancellation of trains through Manchester Oxford Road station with "residual" disruption expected until 09:30 BST, National Rail said.

(Article continues)

[Phantom]

The old mysterious fire weeks after planning permission is refused

[Electric train]

The old mysterious fire weeks after planning permission is refused

Cynic 

[Chris from Nailsea]

The story develops. 

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Fire-hit mill was at centre of preservation battle

(Article continues)