NTSB investigating after SEPTA regional rail train catches fire in Delaware County
NTSB investigating SEPTA train fire
Investigators with the NTSB are in Philadelphia to investigate after a SEPTA Regional Rail train car caught fire.
RIDLEY PARK, Pa. - Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are probing a fire on a SEPTA rail car in Delaware County Thursday night, causing the evacuation of over 300 people.
Two blackened SEPTA cars sit idle at a North Philly rail yard and are the focus of intense interest from investigators after a fire on the train traveling south to Wilmington.
What we know:
It was 6 p.m. Thursday on the six-car train heading out of the Crum Lynne station to Delaware when passengers smelled smoke, and the train was stopped just beyond the station.
SEPTA said the fire came from under the first car with the spreading flames destroying it and heavily damaging the second. SEPTA said the 325 passengers were evacuated without injury.
It was the SilverLiner 4 cars, placed on the rails in the mid-70s and making up the bulk of SEPTA’s Regional Rail fleet, which burned.
SEPTA train catches fire, passengers evacuated in Delaware County
Scary moments for SEPTA passengers traveling in Delaware County after a Regional Rail train caught fire.
What they're saying:
William Walsh waited at the Crum Lynn Station Friday afternoon in Delaware County for his daily commute. He said, "When I saw it, I was like wow - missed that. I heard a couple of people talking about it on the train coming back."
SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said, "The system is safe. We have no indication anything happened last night that is impacting other rail cars that we have in service."
Dig deeper:
The blaze drew investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board to the city to inspect the cars and meet with SEPTA officials Friday afternoon.
The images of flames leaping from a rail car window appear at a critical time for SEPTA as it works to attract riders who left during the pandemic and as the governor proposes $165 million in new funding.
What's next:
William Walsh said he’s sticking with SEPTA. He said, "If anything I think they’d be a little bit more on top of their safety now this happened."