Runaway Train Leaves Braintree Without Operator

By DANIEL LIBON (Patch Staff)

Braintree, MA - The MBTA is investigating why a Red Line train was able to leave the Braintree train station Thursday morning without an operator.

At 6:08 a.m., an inbound train left the Braintree station without a driver, according to the MBTA. Gov. Charlie Baker said during a news conference that the operator was injured when he got off the train to check a signal issue, according to the Boston Globe. He added that the train’s controls were manipulated, causing the train to move without an operator.

“The discussion that’s going to take place on our end is negligence versus something else,” Baker said. “It’s pretty clear that the main control that drives the train was tampered with.”

Operations personnel were able to halt the train by de-powering the third rail. The train had passed the North Quincy station by the time the train came to a halt.

Workers for the T were able to board the train and take it to JFK/UMass, where passengers were able to leave the train before it was taken out of service.

In a statement, the FBI said they are aware of the incident and have been in contact with Transit Police. Baker added that he did not believe that the FBI is involved in the investigation.

No passengers were injured, but the operator is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at South Shore Hospital.

The runaway train caused massive delays on the Red Line Wednesday morning before normal service was restored at 10 a.m.

MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola called the incident “highly troubling.” The incident is under investigation by Transit Police detectives.