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March 25, 2008

Update: Dozens hurt in commuter train crash in Canton

CANTON, Mass. -- Dozens of people were taken to hospitals, most with non-life-threatening injuries, after a freight train box car struck a stationary commuter train locomotive late this afternoon.

Stacy Wilbur, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail, which operates the service for the MBTA, said today that preliminary reports indicate the most of the injuries are minor.

It was not immediately known how many were aboard the rush-hour train heading south from Boston to Stoughton.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said a box car from the CSX freight line rolled off the Stoughton branch onto the main line and struck the locomotive of the commuter train just before 5:30 p.m.

He said the commuter train was not moving at the time.

Wilbur said the train was Number 917. It left Boston's South Station at about 4:40 p.m.

Train 917, coming outbound from Boston, ends its trip in Stoughton, and does not come into Providence, according to the schedule posted on the MBTA Web site.

However, Wilbur said the crash was affecting service on the Stoughton-Providence line.

Amtrak service in the area is also being disrupted by the crash.

According to Amtrak's Web site, the status of arrival and departure times for trains between Boston and Providence currently cannot be determined.

At about 7:15 p.m. at the train station in Providence, an announcement was made that no northbound trains were leaving anytime soon.

Shortly before 7 p.m., were being told it was going to be 7:45 or 8 p.m. before trains arrive there from Boston.

Three Amtrak trains, including two Acela express trains, were being held at the Providence station, with their passengers aboard.

About 60 people were inside the station, waiting and not appearing to be upset by the delays.

For additional assistance, Amtrak says to call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

-- The Associated Press and projo.com reports and Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 7:24 PM | Permalink

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