Governor: Driverless Train Carrying 50 Was Tampered With

Sources tell 5 Investigates Kathy Curran that the operator got off the inbound train just after 6 a.m.in Braintree to check a problem. The train made no stops and continued past North Quincy Station, when workers were able to cut power to the third rail, bringing the train to a stop.

It was a seemingly regular commute for passenger Fernanda Daly until the lights went out and the train stopped between stations.

“We have procedures in place and training in place to ensure that our passengers are safe and feel safe”, Pollack said at a late afternoon press conference.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Charlie Baker said on Boston Herald Radio’s “Morning Meeting” show that the controls were “tampered with”.

Inspectors found signs of tampering with a safety device within the train’s cab, a system that is supposed to prevent it from operating without a driver, transit officials said.

“I think the big issue on this is whether this was a negligence issue or something else”, said Baker.

He has been with the MBTA for more than 28 years and is being treated at South Shore Hospital.

Authorities are interviewing passengers who were on the train.

“My only concern was people trying to open the train when we don’t know what’s going on”, said the passenger, who was not identified.

At this point, however, investigators are primarily focused on “operator error”, she said.

“Baker says the driver got out of the train to check on a signal problem when the train left the station on its own”.

The employee suffered a minor injury when he was brushed by the train as it moved away from the station, transit officials said.

Boston’s Federal Bureau of Investigation office is in talks with transit police about the incident.

The T reported severe Red Line delays last night due to a
disabled train at the Davis Square Station and closed down the tracks Wednesday night after a woman was struck and killed at the Downtown Crossing station.

Red Line vehicles have been operated by one person since 2011, said Gonneville.

The train traveled at a maximum of 25 miles per hour before being brought to a halt, Pollack said.

Baker later said that “inspection of the train determined that some of the controls had been manipulated”. A trip is a single ride, and someone riding one train and transferring to another would be counted as two trips for one-way travel.