Red Line Train Evacuates At Central, But Smoke No Fire, Says MBTA

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Passengers were evacuated on a packed Red Line train Monday morning on the commute to work, and took to Twitter to prove it — and to express their dismay.

The MBTA announced delays and said the train had a mechanical problem at Central that was taken out of service. But despite all the smoke, MBTA officials said in this case, there was no fire.

"There was no fire. The smoke was created by an overheated motor component," said MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo, who added that the delays amounted to only a 6 minute backup.

Although some folks took to Twitter angry about the delay others said it wasn't that bad.

"It was announced there was smoke and we needed to exit the train. The train & platform were a little hazy and had a burnt rubber/smoke smell," wrote one rider to Patch on Twitter. She said she went back down about 15 min later and the trains were running smoothly again, no smoke.

The brief smokey exodus comes as the MBTA announced a kickoff event for Rail Safety Week, where officials reminded commuters "to think Safety First around rail infrastructure and grade crossings."

smoke coming off a red line train at central, everyone had to get off in the middle of the morning rush hour @universalhub #fixthet pic.twitter.com/pTjCYlcS4U
— 12 overripened plums (@shipyrds) September 24, 2018

Also about the MBTA: Red Line Mockup Debuts at Boston City Hall

Hey, you, yes you! Find us, the Cambridge Patch on Facebook.

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

File photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff