Train goes off tracks in Belmont; no injuries

BELMONT, Mass. (WHDH) -- A commuter rail train derailed after dropping passengers off in Belmont Tuesday morning.

“It appears that the front truck of the first car immediately following the engine came off and was pulled -- was running at an angle to the track,” said Dep. Chief Robert Lenehan of the Transit Police Department.

The conductor braked hard at the first sign of trouble; the train came to a stop just past the Belmont station.

“I heart this really awful screeching noise and it sounded like the train was stopping really quickly,” said Sophie Koimasmith, a witness.

The derailment was loud enough to startle Belmont police officers.

“The Belmont police, their station abuts the tracks, and they actually thought that somebody had hit their building and they reported to me that about 30 seconds later they reported to me that the first 911 reporting the train derailed,” said Lenehan.

Police and fire helped the 30 passengers and three crew members evacuate. There were no injuries and they all got off safely.

“The T will have its mechanical engineers look at it and see if it’s equipment failure. The police department, just because of the incident, will take measurements and will do a routine investigation also,” said Lenehan.

The train was traveling from North Station to South Acton. Other train service was slowed, but not stopped. Officials are hoping to have the train removed by the evening commute.