A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) train carrying 350 passengers burst into flames near Crum Lynne Station in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, on Thursday evening.
The fire, which broke out around 6:15 pm (local time), forced a mass evacuation as thick smoke and flames engulfed a carriage.
According to the Daily Mail, passengers noticed smoke just minutes after departing from Philadelphia, with some reporting a strong sulfur-like odour.

Passenger Dnasia Buckner was quoted by Fox News who said that the situation escalated quickly, with passengers initially relocating within the train before conductors ordered a full evacuation. “As people were walking by, they said the train’s on fire, but the conductors aren’t saying anything,” she said.
According to 6ABC Philadelphia, passengers described the smell becoming increasingly strong before the train came to a stop.
Fire crews responded promptly to extinguish the blaze. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch credited the crew for their swift action, stating, “Very quick action by our crews helped allow this to be a safe outcome”, according to The Mirror.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Busch noted that it started “underneath the train” before spreading, as per 6ABC Philadelphia.
The fire disrupted services along the Northeast Corridor, halting Amtrak operations and SEPTA’s Wilmington line. However, CBS Philadelphia reported that full service was restored later that night. SEPTA provided shuttle buses to affected passengers.
This incident follows a week of transportation disasters in the US, including a fatal mid-air collision in Washington DC and a Medevac Learjet crash in Philadelphia. While the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both aviation accidents, they have not yet confirmed whether they will probe the SEPTA fire, as per The Mirror.