London’s Oxford Circus Tube station evacuated over ‘fire alert’ during morning rush hour

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London’s Oxford Circus was partially closed as a result of a “fire alert” as Monday morning rush hour passengers have been evacuated.

More than a dozen London Fire Brigade firefighters have been referred to as to the station after the scent of smoke was brought on by an escalator shortly after 8am on Monday.

A spokesperson for Transport for London Access wrote on X, previously often known as Twitter, that the station was “part closed” on the Central Line.

They added: “This station is closed to the Central Line while we respond to a fire alert. Valid tickets are being accepted on London Buses. Trains stopping on the Bakerloo and Victoria line as normal.”

The situation was resolved by 9am, in keeping with a London Fire Brigade spokesperson, who mentioned: “Fire crews were called to reports of the smell of smoke at Oxford Circus Underground station this morning.

“Firefighters found a light smell of smoke was caused by an escalator which had overheated. The brigade was called at 8.09am and the incident was over by 9.00am.”

Oxford Circus is the eighth busiest Tube station in London with 4.1m passengers utilizing the station yearly.