DORCHESTER, MASS. (WHDH) - Several riders on a Framingham Line Commuter Rail train bailed after their locomotive stopped due to an electrical issue, leaving them stranded for hours without power or announcements, according to the MBTA.
Officials said Commuter Train 595 stalled on the tracks around 6 p.m. on Monday, just past the Boston Landing station. The electrical issue left those onboard without electricity, air conditioning or an announcement system to notify them of the issue.
While the MBTA posted updates on social media, some on board ultimately used the emergency door handles to exit the train. Footage sent to 7NEWS showed some riders using a ladder to get over a fence once they were off the 595.
In a statement, the MBTA and Keolis said they “understand that passengers were frustrated while the train was stopped” but that the safest option was to keep passengers on board.
The MBTA said train crews advised passengers to stay onboard while Worcester Line Train 528 was dispatched to assist.
This wasn’t the only issue causing MBTA delays this week. Shuttle buses are replacing Braintree service between JFK and Braintree weeknights for the next two weeks as the MBTA completes maintenance work stemming from concerns the Federal Transit Administration raised, including track realignment and tie replacement. Those delays continued into the morning “due to the late completion of overnight maintenance work,” the MBTA tweeted.
“If it has something to do with my safety, I mean, it may be inconvenient, but I think it’s really worth it,” said rider Richard Lee.
A series of runaway trains, derailments and a death have plagued the Red Line in recent months, inciting tighter federal oversight. Late last week, the FTA instituted a “safety standdown” for employees who move and park trains to address runaway train issues via safety briefings. The MBTA said those briefings are progressing as planned.
Some commuters said that seeing crews address these issues on the tracks could help the MBTA build trust with riders.
“I think it’s imperative to show people that they’re willing to address some changes and revise some policy and get things done,” said rider Lily Moreau.
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