BOSTON — Buses were called in to replace subway service along a section of the Red Line during the Thursday morning rush after a smoking train in Boston prompted a large emergency response.
Train service was suspended between Harvard and Broadway as crews responded to 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 Charles/MGH Station reported smoke underneath the first car,” an MBTA official said. “Passengers exited the train at the station and there were no injuries. Power to the third was shut off while the Boston Fire Department investigated.”
Red Line trains started rolling again shortly before 8 a.m. and the Charles/MGH station was reopened around 8:45 a.m.
Red Line Update: Charles/MGH Station has reopened and service to the Station has resumed.https://t.co/gghAIzvyjP
— MBTA (@MBTA) July 13, 2023
Video from the scene showed Boston firefighters entering the station and water seeping out of the front entrance. Transit police officers and Boston EMS crews were also spotted 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 attempted to extinguish the situation, a pipe burst in the station, forcing them to carry cans of water up to the train.
“We manually carried up cans of water and we were able to extinguish it that way,” Deputy Chief James Greene said.
Power was restored to the train just before 9 a.m. and it was moved out of the way. Officials also noted that the smoke emanated from an air compressor control box on the train.
The standpipes at Charles/MGH were last inspected in 2019, according to the MBTA.
The T warned commuters of delays as the shuttles were deployed.
It’s not clear what caused the train to catch fire.
An investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE FROM @MBTA: Power has been restored and the disabled train is being moved out of the way.
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) July 13, 2023
The smoke emanated from an air compressor control box on the train (there has been no confirmation of flames)
Deputy Chief James Greene briefs the media on the fire. At approximately 5:45 companies responded to a Fire under the @MBTA Red Line train at Charles /MGH . All passengers self evacuated, there were no injuries to report. pic.twitter.com/wrXl5jlhu4
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 13, 2023
BREAKING: water coming out of the entrance to the Charles/MGH MBTA Station after @BostonFire responds to a mechanical issue with a train, resulting in smoky conditions inside the Red Line T stop. @boston25 https://t.co/wS4vE9AJqy pic.twitter.com/LrioL1VqOR
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) July 13, 2023
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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