NJ Transit Train With 30 People On Board Catches Fire In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — An electrical fire damaged an NJ Transit train with 30 people on board Saturday, damaging the train and disrupting service south of Long Branch, authorities said.

There were no injuries reported, officials said.

The fire was reported at 12:33 p.m. on North Jersey Coast Line train 4736 that was headed north from Bay Head and was scheduled to arrive in Long Branch at 1:09 p.m., said John Chartier, director of media relations for NJ Transit.

The fire broke out in the vestibule stairwell between the first and second cars as the train was near the Washington Avenue crossing, Chartier said.

Firefighters from Ocean Fire Company and Point Pleasant Beach Fire Company 2 responded and found smoke coming from the train with the conductor reporting an active fire under one of the cars with possible extension into the car, Ocean Fire Company officials said.

Firefighters found a small fire under the stairs leading into the car and the fire was quickly isolated and extinguished, fire company officials said.

Train traffic between Long Branch and Bay Head was temporarily stopped and bus service was substituted between the two, but train service has since resumed, Chartier said.

New Jersey Transit Police are on scene and leading the investigation, he said.