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Contact: Andrew BuschPress Officer 
 SEPTA Continues Investigation Into Regional Rail Car Fire
Quick Thinking By Crew, Passengers & Others Credited For SafeResolution
PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 4, 2009)
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SEPTA continues working with the PhiladelphiaFire Department and various local, state and federal authorities on an investigation into a fireaboard an R5 Paoli train car in West Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.The fire broke out at about 6:50 a.m. aboard the lead car of the four-car train approximatelyone mile east of SEPTA’s Overbrook Station. Minutes before that, the crew reported a burningodor coming from the lead car. Per standard operating procedure, all passengers on the lead car were evacuated into the three other cars on the train, and the train was to continue to 30
th
StreetStation and then taken out of service.The engineer then reported heavy smoke aboard the train, and a full evacuation wasimmediately ordered. Within minutes of the safe evacuation of all passengers and the train crew,the lead car was fully engulfed in flames. A nearby Regional Rail train adjacent to the one on firewas also safely evacuated. None of the estimated 1,000 passengers evacuated from these two trains requiredhospitalization. One was assisted at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The threeSEPTA crew members were taken to a hospital for observation, but were not injured.James Jordan, SEPTA’s Assistant General Manager for Public and Operational Safety, said thefire was most likely related to the electrical or heating system on the train. SEPTA officials saythere is no indication the fire was intentionally set – and the incident is in no way connected tothe current strike by the Transport Workers Union Local 234 involving SEPTA City TransitDivision workers.“It is an accidental fire,” Jordan said.Jordan credited quick-thinking by the SEPTA crew – and passengers – for the safe resolutionto this incident. He also praised the quick and effective response by the Philadelphia FireDepartment. Firefighters arrived on the scene within 20 minutes of the flames breaking out, andhad the fire under control just 15 minutes later.SEPTA is also grateful for assistance from Amtrak, which acted immediately to shut downelectrical power – a crucial part of securing the scene. The Philadelphia Office of EmergencyManagement also came to SEPTA’s aide, making six school buses available to transport stranded passengers. 
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