A mass-transit train caught fire in Germany on Friday and its driver was injured by toxic smoke, fire crews said.

Four train staff in the western city of Essen ushered all the passengers to safety in the open air.

The driver applied the emergency brake just as the train was leaving Kaiser Wilhelm Park underground station in the city.

The train halted with its front end in the tunnel and the rest in the station. Flames at the driver's end only became visible after the passengers had left the station. A fire brigade put the fire out before it spread. The Essen train company did not disclose the cause.