Federal investigators are looking into a fire that broke out on a SEPTA train, forcing 350 passengers to evacuate in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it has sent a team to Ridley Park to determine what caused the flames that engulfed part of the train on Thursday night.
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The fire started around 6 p.m. as the Wilmington-Newark Regional Rail line train traveled from Philadelphia to Wilmington, Delaware near Crum Lynne Station. Despite the severity of the incident, no injuries were reported.
Passengers reported smelling strong smoke shortly after departing 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Some initially dismissed it as a routine train odor, but as the smoky, sulfur-like smell intensified, panic set in.
“We stopped and kept going. That was the most dangerous part. We should’ve just stopped. Period,” said passenger Julius Stripling of West Philadelphia.
The train passed nine stops before conductors finally evacuated passengers near Crum Lynne Station. SEPTA officials believe the fire was burning under the first car, but the exact cause remains unknown.
“The crew will be interviewed, and we’ll review everything, including footage from onboard cameras,” said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.
Train service was halted for several hours before resuming just after 11 p.m. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor was also affected but has since returned to normal.
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