The fire at Nottingham station is now being investigated as arson and is ‘unlikely to be open by Saturday’, according to the British Transport Police.
Fire crews from Notts Fire and Rescue Service are still at the scene as the fire continues to blaze although some fire engines have been released.
Six engines and some further specialist appliances remain on the scene.
Police are collecting evidence alongside the firefighters.
Supt Sandra England said: “Enquiries have been ongoing today and we now have reason to believe the fire may have been started deliberately.
“Officers are working to identify anyone who may have been involved in the incident, and we are appealing for information from members of the public.
“Fortunately, we have not had any reports of injuries as a result of the fire.
“Cordons remain in place around the area and trains are not running.”
Videos and pictures showed a significant blaze in the main concourse of the building when the fire began, and smoke billowing from the roof.
The fire began at around 6.30am on Friday (January 12) in a toilet and emergency services believe everyone inside the building escaped unharmed.
Firefighters say the footbridge linking platforms to the ticket hall has been badly damaged by the fire and the entire station has suffered significant smoke damage.
Video: Notts TV reporter Danielle Hall at the scene of the Nottingham station fire
British Transport Police issued advice to football fans looking to use trains to travel to and from matches saying the station is unlikely to reopen tomorrow.
Supt England said: “Due to the ongoing emergency response to the fire at Nottingham railway station, there are unlikely to be trains running to and from the station tomorrow.
“Even if some trains are running by tomorrow, there will be an extremely limited service with many delays, cancellations and overcrowding.
“Rather than taking a chance and heading to the station to pack yourself onto a crowded train, or worse, find that you can’t travel at all, please make alternative travel arrangements in advance.
“We want everyone to be able to get to the football without the stress of a difficult journey – please start making alternative travel plans now so that you can enjoy your weekend.”
A joint investigation between the Notts Service’s Fire Investigation Team and British Transport Police is underway.
The tram network has since resumed its service but is not stopping at Nottingham station.
East Midlands Trains issued an update at 3.25pm this afternoon which said: “Structural engineers will need to assess the station before we can understand which trains will be able to run tomorrow.”
#EMTUpdate: Our trains through #Nottingham are still disrupted following the fire at the station. Our advice is not to travel. More info here: https://t.co/v6uXvIh8yN
— East Midlands Trains (@EMTrains) January 12, 2018
EMT also Tweeted to say: “We’re working with emergency services to open access to the station car park at Nottingham; unfortunately it isn’t safe to access at the moment so remains closed.”
@nottsfire I would like to say a massive thank you to Nottingham #rapidreliefteam that have been supporting the emergency services and all the agencies working hard at #NottinghamTrainStation pic.twitter.com/z9zSRQ0Fwm
— Craig Day (@nottsfire_CD) January 12, 2018
The Rapid Relief Team were on hand to deliver food and drink to those working on tackling the incident.
Station manager at Notts Fire and Rescue Craig Day Tweeted to say: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Nottingham #rapidreliefteam that have been supporting the emergency services and all the agencies working hard at #NottinghamTrainStation.”
Congratulated emergency services on their great work keeping public safe and controlling the serious fire at #Nottingham Station. Heartening to hear Network Rail’s plans to get much of the station back in action ASAP.
— Jo Johnson (@JoJohnsonUK) January 12, 2018
The new Minister for Transport Jo Johnson visited the station to ‘see the damage to the historic station and thank emergency for their work’.
He Tweeted: “Congratulated emergency services on their great work keeping public safe and controlling the serious fire at #Nottingham station.
“Heartening to hear Network Rail’s plans to get much of the station back in action ASAP.”
Anyone with information is asked to call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 85 of January 12.
