Orange Line service resumes between North Station and Back Bay after track fire

BOSTON - Orange Line service has resumed between North Station and Back Bay after a track fire near Tufts Medical Center.

An MBTA spokesperson told WBZ-TV a train operator spotted the fire just before noon Wednesday. Power to the electrified third line was shut off and Boston firefighters put out the flames.

"The smoke was so thick," said Shawn Cain, who was heading home on his usual route. "Then groups of people start getting up, and they look worried, and you smell something faintly like burnt rubber. Everyone started walking off the train in masks and you look down the platform and there it is, a gigantic cloud of smoke."

The T said no one was hurt. There's no word yet on what caused the fire but one Boston resident told WBZ TV the T's reputation may have been damaged further.

"That's a big safety issue," said Constantine Karelas. "Whatever is happening is not good on the T, I wouldn't take it if I had a free pass for life."

Passengers who witnessed the fire, like Cain, are demanding more from the transit authority and elected officials moving forward.

"I hope the governor and I hope the mayor, I hope they have plans in the works. We're one of the wealthiest, smartest cities in the world, we can do this, we can fix this," said Cain.

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