Hiawatha LRT Car Derails, 1st Time Since Line Opened
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A car on the Hiawatha Light Rail line derailed on Wednesday night between the Nicollet Mall Station and the Hennepin Avenue Station in Minneapolis.
John Siqveland, a spokesperson for Metro Transit said it happened around 11:30 p.m.
He said the two-car train was traveling at a very slow speed. When it was crossing over from one track to another, the lead car derailed by a few inches at track switches. The second car didn't go off the tracks, but was uncoupled from the first car, and moved away on the track.
No one was hurt and customers on the train were able to get off safely.
The line was closed between the two stops for a few hours, so Metro Transit brought in buses to help customers get to their locations during those times.
Right now, it's not known what caused it to derail, but it is under investigation.
Siqveland said this is the first derailment that's happened on the Hiawatha Light Rail line since the line opened in 2004.
