Regional Rail Accident

A SEPTA was worker was hit by the West Trenton train this morning at 8:00 morning.

Below is the full story from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Track fatality disrupts 3 regional rail lines
By Peter Mucha
Inquirer Staff Writer

A man was fatally struck by a West Trenton train this morning, causing service to be suspended on several regional rail lines.

Trains were not running north of the Fern Rock regional rail station on the Warminster (R2), West Trenton (R3) and Lansdale/Doylestown (R5) lines.

"Everything from Fern Rock into the city is operating," said SEPTA spokesman Gary Fairfax.

The victim, a male, was struck about 8:30 a.m. by a southbound R3 West Trenton train near the Philadelphia-Montgomery County border, just south of the Melrose Park station, he said.

He declined to share other details, such as the victim's age, or confirm reports that the victim was a SEPTA worker.

Police said an initial report indicated he was a track inspector.

Yesterday, a fire forced the evacuation of about 500 passengers from a train on the R5-Paoli line. No one was injured, but service on the line was suspended for two hours.

Flames broke out in the first of four cars as the train was leaving the Overbrook Station at about 7 a.m. Passengers had already been moved to other cars because of a burning smell.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.