Red Line resumes service after train derails, damages track

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is hoping to avoid more trouble on the tracks Thursday after a Red Line train derailed and damaged track.

An MBTA spokesman told Boston 25 News Thursday morning that it's been nearly nine years since a heavy rail train, which is the Red, Orange and Blue lines, in passenger service, derailed.

"There were 10 derailments in 2017, and none involved passenger trains in service," Joe Pestauro said. "Seven of these involved maintenance vehicles that derailed."

He said the other three involved out-of-service trains in rail yards.

Wednesday’s Red Line derailment occurred with passengers on board, and it created a frustrating disruption for thousands of people.

It's been the only derailment so far in 2018, Pesaturo said, and investigators are working to determine the root cause.

MORE: MBTA blames derailment for Wednesdays Red Line issues

The MBTA says the last of the six-car train was headed into Andrew Station when it derailed and then re-railed itself, damaging 300 feet of electrified third rail.

Red Line service between Broadway and JFK/UMass was shut down until about 5:30 p.m.

Thousands of people waited more than an hour in some cases for shuttle buses during the afternoon commute.

Boston 25 News spoke with one of the commuters who was on the derailed train.

“The window across from where I was sitting started imploding,” Kyle Hemingway said. “There was smoke everywhere, and I wasn’t sure if it was on fire or what was about to happen.”

The MBTA’s general manager wrote in a statement, “This is a serious incident and we want our customers to know that our top priority is to operate a safe system for our customers.”

The Red Line is considered to be up-and-running Thursday morning, and Boston 25 News will continue to keep a close eye on the commute throughout the morning rush.

Cox Media Group