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Panic at Mass. Ave. as brakes on Orange Line train seize up, slam train to stop, belch smoke

By adamg on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 5:41pm

UPDATE: WCVB reports the train driver was taken out of service for "a long talk" about not panicking riders.

There was a chaotic scene at Mass. Ave. around 5:30 p.m. caused by balky brakes on an Orange Line train.

Ashley Keenan reports:

Was told to get off the train at mass ave. lots of yelling and chaos.

David Siegel addressed a tweet to the T:

Your conductor's panicked screams of "get off the train" didn't help the stampede off the train!

By the time Boston firefighters arrived, the MBTA had already emptied the train and moved it out of the station. T officials told firefighters the smoke came from some malfunctioning brakes, but that there was no fire.

Neighborhoods: 
Roxbury
Free tagging: 
Orange Line
Massachusetts Avenue


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Comments

By anon on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 6:17pm.

That doesn't rhyme!

By adamg on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 6:29pm.

If it had just been a simple smoking-brakes thing, I would've gone with a rhyme, but this was a bit more serious due to panic, screaming, etc. - and, yes, fortunately, it turned out to be just a smoking-brakes thing ...

By fenway on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 9:12pm.

"His reported conduct is unacceptable," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.

Pesaturo said that Orange Line supervisors will have "a long talk" with the employee.

"The MBTA will take whatever actions are necessary to ensure that the motor person performs his duties in a professional manner at all times," Pesaturo said.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/mbta-conductor-removed-from-service-after-repor...

By maria c on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 11:07pm.

I was on that train, too. There are so many other drivers of the Orange Line who have pleasant, calm voices who speak clear English. Out of all days I had to be on this train not driven by one of those drivers.

By Ishmael Jones on Tue, 07/26/2016 - 10:30am.

Most drivers on this line are pretty good; there are a few that seem shaky. If the driver is screaming at people on the platform to get away from the train, or yelling at passengers, it makes you wonder what would happen if a real emergency occurred. Doesn't strike you with confidence.