Passengers removed from train disabled on bridge

Inquirer staff writer Peter Mucha reports:

About 250 passengers were safely evacuated from a westbound PATCO train after it became disabled on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge this morning.

As of 8:10 a.m., the train was being pulled back toward the Camden side, promising that train service might soon get back to a normal schedule. Traffic jams have disappeared.

Eastbound and westbound trains had to take turns using the track on the bridge's south side, after the four-car train became stuck on the northside track about 6:30 a.m., according to Ed Kasuba, spokesman for the Delaware River Port Authority, which operates the PATCO High Speed Line between New Jersey and Philadelphia.

The passengers were transferred to a "rescue train" at about 7:15 a.m., Kasuba said.

The rescue train was hooked to another train at the City Hall station in Camden, and the passengers then went on their way to Philadelphia, without exiting in Jersey, he said.

The train became stuck because of a "blown motor" on one of the cars, Kasuba said.

The right westbound lane of the bridge was closed, as police cars with flashing lights forced cars to steer clear of the scene, near the top of the bridge.

Police officers were also on the train to keep things orderly, Kasuba said.

WERE YOU ON THE TRAIN? Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.

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