MBTA Removes All New Orange And Red Line Trains For Review After Medford Derailment
MEDFORD (CBS) – The MBTA will keep its new Orange Line and Red Line cars out of service after a derailment on Tuesday. One of the new Orange Line trains derailed in Medford near Wellington Station just before noon.
The northbound train was moving at a slow rate of speed and crossing to the southbound track to avoid maintenance work when it derailed.
"While the cause of the derailment has not yet been determined, the MBTA, out of an abundance of caution, will keep its new Orange Line and Red Line cars out of service to allow vehicle engineers to perform a thorough analysis of the cars' performance," the MBTA said.
There were about 100 passengers who were quickly taken off the train and evaluated by firefighters. None were injured and they were transported by bus from the scene.
Shuttle buses that are currently replacing Orange Line service between Oak Grove and Sullivan Square Stations in both directions will continue for the next three weeks.
The MBTA said this will allow workers to replace a decades old track switch that was damaged during the derailment.
The MBTA has been operating four new six-car subway trains on the Orange Line and one on the Red Line.