BOSTON — No injuries were reported when a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line B Branch light rail train derailed today (Saturday, March 9) just west of Kenmore Station. The incident occurred hours after the line reopened after an 18-day shutdown for track maintenance.
WCVB-TV reports the derailment occurred about 8:55 a.m. and led to service being replaced by shuttle buses while the trainset involved was re-railed. A post on the MBTA account on X reported regular service had resumed by 5:15 p.m.
An estimated 25 people were on board at the time of the incident.
“All riders were safely evacuated and escorted back to the westbound platform,” MBTA CEO Phillip Eng said in a statement. “We understand the frustration this incident causes for riders, particularly those who have been awaiting the return of service during construction.” Service had resumed at 5 a.m.after what Eng called “rigorous testing;” he said “more than 70 Green Line trolleys had already safely traveled through Kenmore Station prior to this incident.”
Cause of the derailment is under investigation.
“This incident underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to enhance the reliability and resilience of the MBTA system following decades of underinvestment,” Eng said. “We are committed to identifying the root cause, implementing necessary corrective actions, and keeping the public informed every step of the way.”
Portions of the Green Line had been shut down since Feb. 20 as part of the ongoing effort to address slow orders throughout the MBTA rail transit system [see “MBTA to shut down portions of Red, Green lines …,” News Wire, Jan. 26, 2024].
