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UPDATE
3:00pm:
Trains are running again between Albion Park and Oak Flats on the South Coast Line after a grass fire at Albion Park.
Passengers are advised to listen to announcements and check indicator boards.
2:50pm: Fire and Rescue NSW duty commander Illawarra, Inspector Jay Bland, said he expected train services to resume on the South Coast rail line after firefighters swiftly extinguished a grass fire at Albion Park Rail on Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze ripped through around one hectare of bush just south of the train station with smoke impacting the rail corridor.
Inspector Bland said at this stage the cause of the fire was unknown, but the incident’s alert level was upgraded due to weather conditions.
“It was just a rapidly moving fire,” he said. “High westerly winds and everything is pretty dry out there.”
Crews from the Rural Fire Service were also in attendance.
2:41pm: It’s understood the large grass fire near Albion Park Rail train station has now been extinguished.
EARLIER: Firefighters are battling a large grass fire near Albion Park Rail train station.
The blaze was sparked just after 2pm on Wednesday on the western side of the rail line at Burroo Street.
Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW are currently on scene, with more crews from the Rural Fire Service on the way.
“Smoke is impacting the rail corridor so the trains will be stropped,” a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said.
Buses replacing trains between Albion Park and Oak Flats stations. A shuttle train is running between Oak Flats and Kiama.
It’s understood no property is under threat at this stage.
The fire is burning on a “severe” fire danger day.
The Bureau of Meteorology says warm, dry and windy conditions are being observed over eastern parts of NSW ahead of a cold front, which is set to bring a cool change during the afternoon and evening.
Severe fire danger has now been forecast in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Greater Hunter and Greater Sydney Region fire districts on Wednesday.