Boston Orange Line Train Catches Fire as Passengers Evacuated, Videos Show

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Videos have begun circulating on social media appearing to show a Boston Orange Line train on fire.

One video, shared on Twitter by Boston 25 News reporter Ted Daniel, has been viewed more than 50,000 times.

In the footage, flames and sparks can be seen coming from the front carriage of a train stopped in the middle of crossing a bridge that runs over the Mystic River. Black smoke can also be seen billowing from the train.

An MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) spokesperson said the train was approaching Assembly Station when it caught fire around 6:45 a.m., according to Boston 25 News report.

An estimated 200 people were evacuated from the train when it caught fire. This included a woman who jumped into the river and others who climbed through windows.

The woman who jumped declined medical attention when she was seen again and so far there have been no other reported injuries, according to the MBTA.

A video of the woman treading water after diving into the river has also been shared on Twitter by 7 News' Rob Way.

"New video shows a person in the water after an Orange Line train broke down and started smoking over the Mystic River," he wrote as a caption.

"Riders had to climb off the train on to the tracks and walk back to the station. Witnesses say one person even jumped into the water."

WBZ News Radio journalist Karyn Regal also shared a video of the passengers evacuating the on-fire train. She noted that the footage was filmed by passenger Jennifer Thomas-Sullivan.

The video shows passengers moving around frantically to escape the train through its windows.

As a woman climbs out of the window, other people can be seen standing on the track alongside the train.

In a statement, the MBTA said: "Smoke was observed on the head car of a southbound train approaching Assembly Station. Power was turned off between Wellington and Assembly and the Somerville Fire Department responded."

A man staying at the nearby Encore Boston Harbor, John Gosselin, spoke to Boston 25 News and told the news station what he saw as he looked outside his hotel window.

"The train stopped and sparks starting coming out of the front, probably about three feet behind the driver," Gosselin said.

"I saw a flame and then I knew something was up...It engulfed very, very quickly. The flames were shooting up. The smoke got very black."

Newsweek has contacted the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for comment.

Boston orange city
MBTA orange line subway train at Back Bay Station. Videos have begun circulating on social media showing passengers evacuating following a train fire on the Boston Orange Line. Getty

About the writer

Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. news, politics, world news, local news and viral videos. Gerrard joined Newsweek in 2021 and had previously worked at Express Online. He is a graduate of Brunel University. Languages: English.

You can get in touch with Gerrard by emailing g.kaonga@newsweek.com.


Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more