MBTA Commuter Rail tweeted just after 7:20 a.m. that Franklin Line train 743 was stopped at South Station in the Michael S. Dukakis Transporation Center with a “mechanical issue” and due to a “last minute swap.” Boston-area media reports that the train “uncoupled” at the station, although details on the incident were not reported nor tweeted out by MBTA. The issue resulted in delays to at least 16 other trains, according to MBTA tweets, with some delays rising to as long as 70 minutes. Train 744, which experienced one of those 70 minute delays, cancelled at least one station stop, the tweets show.
Amtrak Acela train 2190 was also delayed by about a half-hour by the uncoupled MBTA train and Amtrak advised riders that other Boston-area trains could be delayed.
MBTA tweeted that train 743 was “removed” from South Station by 7:55 a.m. and that it departed the station about 25 minutes later. The commuter carrier specified that the uncoupling was not due to the winter weather currently affecting the Northeastern U.S.
Shades of Palatine Bridge! At least they weren’t travelling at speed and getting hit by the rear end of the train. But note this is South Side.
The uncoupling would also affect the electrical and communications lines between the affected cars. Some of these cables or connectors could have been damaged and required replacement.
What is with all the undesired uncoupling going on the northeast lately? Couple Amtrak trains last year, this one now.
The solution to the incident apparently goes beyond simply re-coupling the train. Bureaucracy may be a factor when government agencies such as the NTSB investigate the cause of the uncoupling.