Broken Wheel Caused Red Line Derailment

A broken wheel caused a Red Line train leaving Alewife Station to derail Tuesday afternoon, MBTA officials said yesterday.

No one was injured during the mishap, which was set into motion after a portion of one of the train’s 48 wheels broke off during a previous trip between Andrew and Broadway stations in Southie the T found. Sixty-five riders were evacuated during the rush-hour accident.

“We don’t expect it to happen again, but we are still taking every step to make sure we understand the precise nature of the failure,” said Anna M. Barry, director of subway operations.

Barry said the T hired engineers to help its own experts review the incident and develop new inspection procedures for that particular train model, which accounts for 86 of the Red Line’s 218 cars. The wheels, which usually last three to five years, will be changed more often now, Barry said.


Source: news.bostonherald.com