NTSB opens public docket in rail-car fire investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board has opened its public docket for its investigation into the Feb. 6, 2025, fire on a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority train.

The incident occurred when the lead rail car of a SEPTA Regional Rail train caught fire as it departed Crum Lynne Station in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, according to the preliminary report in the docket. The train's rail cars belonged to the Silverliner IV fleet.

The train was traveling from West Trenton, New Jersey, to Newark, Delaware. About 325 passengers and four crew members were on board. There were no injuries or fatalities in the incident. SEPTA estimated damages to equipment to be about $10 million.

On the day of the incident, the train was at Bethayres Station when the engineer of the crew contacted SEPTA’s Regional Rail Operations Control Center in Philadelphia and informed the dispatcher that the train was sluggish and not getting up to speed, and that a fault light on the train was on. The dispatcher arranged for a mechanical maintenance team to inspect the train on the main track near SEPTA’s Roberts Yard.

The mechanical maintenance team completed their inspection and contacted the superintendent of train operations at the control center and reported that three rail cars were “bad” and causing the train's slow acceleration. However, the train continued to operate.

When the train was at the 30th Street Station, the train's engineer called the chief dispatcher to report a burning smell in the lead rail car. The train still continued to operate enroute. As the train reached Crum Lynne Station, the engineer noticed haze behind the lead rail car.

As the train departed Crum Lynne Station, the engineer saw smoke behind the lead rail car and stopped the train about 638 feet south of Crum Lynne Station. The engineer stepped down to inspect the train and reported that the rail car was on fire.

The crew lowered the pantograph on the train, moved passengers to the rear rail cars, established track protection on the adjacent track and evacuated the passengers. The fire was extinguished that evening.

The NTSB's ongoing investigative activity will focus on identifying the source of the fire; inspecting the electrical wiring in the rail cars; evaluating SEPTA’s rail-car inspection, maintenance and repair process; and the rail operations center's response to enroute train failures.