BOSTON – Buses were called in to replace subway service along a section of the Red Line during Thursday morning’s rush hour after a smoking train in Boston prompted a major emergency response.
Train service was suspended between Harvard and Broadway as crews responded to the Charles/MGH station for a “mechanical issue” with a train “caused by a smoke condition,” according to the MBTA.
“At approximately 5:50 a.m., the operator of a northbound train at the Charles/MGH station reported smoke under the first car,” an MBTA official said. “The passengers left the train at the station and there were no injuries. Power to the third was cut while the Boston Fire Department investigated.”
Red Line trains started running again just before 8 a.m. and the Charles/MGH station reopened around 8:45 a.m.
Video from the scene showed Boston firefighters entering the station and water seeping through the main entrance. Traffic police officers and Boston EMS crews were also seen outside the station.
The Boston Fire Department said crews were called to the scene for a report of a fire under a train. As firefighters tried to extinguish the situation, a pipe burst into the station, forcing them to carry cans of water to the train.
“We manually brought in cans of water and were able to put it out that way,” Deputy Chief James Greene said.
Power was restored to the train shortly before 9 a.m. and it moved off the track. Officials also noted that smoke was coming from a control box on the train’s air compressor.
The Charles/MGH source pipes were last inspected in 2019, according to the MBTA.
The T warned commuters of delays as shuttles were deployed.
It is unclear what caused the train to catch fire.
An investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE OF @MBTA: Power has been restored and the disabled train is moving.
Smoke was coming from a train air compressor control box (no flames confirmed)
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) July 13, 2023
Deputy Chief James Greene briefs the media on the fire. At approximately 5:45 companies responded to a fire under the@MBTARed Line train at Charles /MGH. All passengers self-evacuated, there were no injuries to report. pic.twitter.com/wrXl5jlhu4
— Boston Fire Department (@BostonFire) July 13, 2023
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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