It was the last train out of there, as it sped along the track.
All the people travelling home, were never coming back.
The load was twice capacity, the old carriages were crude.
One passenger was hungry, lit a stove to heat some food.

To have a fire in this crowded place, was a terrible idea.
Those stood, who saw the flames, were screaming out in fear.
The fire took hold, and caught the seats, and everything around.
But despite their shouts of warning, the driver heard no sound.

As the flames rose higher, the people fought to escape the heat.
In the crush for a window, some were trampled by frantic feet.
The lights went out, windows smashed, the fire was spreading.
The flaming shell, a "tunnel of death", continued on its heading.

I cannot, I do not want to, imagine what that was like inside.
The fear, the pain, your own destruction that could not be denied.
The stark facts, the unbelievable images, were there to see.
With a sickened stomach, I just was grateful it wasn't me.

It was the last train out of there, as it sped along the track.
All the people travelling home, were never coming back.