A COMMUTER train carrying 350 people burst into flames forcing passengers to evacuate in chaotic scenes.

Horror pictures showed orange flames shooting from windows and thick smoke billowing from doorways.

The SEPTA train was en-route from Philadelphia to Wilmington, Delaware, when the inferno engulfed one of the cars on Thursday night.

And, the blaze happened at around 6pm local time in Ridley Park – around 20 miles from Philadelphia.

Dramatic footage showed the inferno raging and thick grey smoke billowing into the sky.

Travelers revealed they could smell smoke within minutes of the train leaving Philadelphia, as reported by the ABC affiliate WABC-TV.

Passengers said they were moved carriages twice as chaos unfolded.

Dnasia Bruckner, speaking to the NBC affiliate WCAU-TV, said she was moved to different carriages twice and felt claustrophobic.

“I was scared,” she said.

“As people were walking by, they said the train’s on fire but the conductors aren’t saying anything.

“And eventually they opened the doors and we got off.”            

She claimed it took around 15 minutes to get off the train.

Andrew Busch, a SEPTA train spokesperson, revealed the precise location where the fire broke out is unknown.

All that officials know so far is that it was in an area underneath the commuter train.

“Then [it] obviously engulfed the train in flames,” he told WABC.

Fire crews were reportedly tackling the blaze from the other side of the tracks, as reported by WION.

“The pictures really tell the story of how serious this situation was,” Busch said.

No passengers were injured and they were ushered onto shuttle buses.

Services were temporarily halted while crews were dealing with the fire.

Amtrak services between Philadelphia and Wilmington have now restarted.

But travelers have been warned about potential delays.

The investigation into the blaze remains ongoing.

Officials are looking if the fire started in one of the train’s engines.