Train ride to hell: Astonishing footage shows five cars of cargo ablaze after wooden railway ties caught fire in Ontario

Shocking video shows the moment a cargo train speeds through a Canadian town spewing flames after five of the carriages were consumed by fire. 

The ablaze Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway train barreled through downtown London, Ontario late on Sunday night finally stopping at 10.49pm. 

Five wooden railway ties inside the train caught fire - it is not yet known how - and the flames spread throughout the train as it traveled through the town. 

Shocked passersby screamed as the train went past, eventually stopping so fire crews could descend to put out the flames. 

No one was hurt and cars carrying dangerous goods and hazardous materials were split from the burning carriages and moved away. 

An ablaze Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway train barreled through downtown London, Ontario late on Sunday night

Five wooden railway ties inside the train caught fire - it is not yet known how

It is not yet known what started the fire, but the train picked up the railway ties in the Strathroy area. 

Then, at some point between Strathroy and London the ties ignited. 

London Fire platoon chief Colin Shewell told CBC: 'We will treat everything as arson until proven otherwise, these were scrap railway ties, so there's really no dollar value on them. 

'They were actually destined to be destroyed.'

Footage of shocking incident shows the train careening through a railway crossing while shocked residents wait in their cars. 

The train speeds through, spewing flames along its length from three cars back from the train, bright against the dark night sky. 

Passersby filmed the train going past and called 911 to alert authorities.  

Smoke fills the air as the train comes to a halt between an apartment building and office building. 

It took fire crews an hour and a half to put out the blaze and another few hours to ensure the fire was completely out. 

It's not clear if or when train operators had noticed the fire or whether they were alerted to it by residents' 911 calls. 

It is not yet known what started the fire, but the train picked up the railway ties out of town in the Strathroy area

It took fire crews an hour and a half to put out the blaze and another few hours to ensure the fire was completely out

The next morning the blackened, burnt out train cars were visible parked in a nearby lot

The next morning the blackened, burnt out train cars were visible parked in a nearby lot.  

The train company told CBC: 'The incident remains under investigation. We thank the London first responders for their effective response to the fire last night.'

According to CBC, damage is estimated at $25,000 to the rail cars and $10,000 to the office building.

The London Fire Department posted on X: 'Thanks to multiple 911 callers that advised our Communication Operations of an eastbound train on fire going over Oxford St. 

'We were able to get on scene & contain the fire in the downtown area very quickly with limited damage and no injuries.'