Keolis apologizes for hourlong delay after Salem breakdown

Operators of the Commuter Rail apologized to passengers Thursday for a Wednesday night issue that saw many commuters stuck inside a train for more than an hour.

The breakdown happened just before 6 p.m. Wednesday in Salem, a rail spokesman told Metro. Passengers stayed there until about 7:20, he said, adding that an apparent brake issue also made it difficult to move the disabled train.

“We want to apologize to our passengers for the inconvenience last night,” said Mac Daniel, spokesman for Keolis, the company that operates the state’s commuter rail. “We certainly hope it doesn’t happen again and we’re doing our best to make sure mechanically that all of our locomotives are operating properly before they go out on their runs.”

In all, nine trains on the Rockport and Newburyport lines saw delays, ranging from 30 minutes to more than an hour, Daniel said. Residual delays lasted until between 8 and 9 p.m.

Many peeved passengers took to Twitter to complain Wednesday night.

@MBTA_CR @MBTA @universalhub Officially been stuck in Salem tunnel over an hour. How long until I can legally start busting windows?

— Richard Johnson (@SagatFlakes) October 7, 2015

Trapped in Salem tunnel 25+ minutes. Please send food, booze, competent public transportation system. @MBTA_CR @MBTA @KeolisNA @universalhub

— Hal Mackins (@halmackins) October 7, 2015

Been stuck here for just about an hour now. Unacceptable. @MBTA_CR @universalhub

— sdconnor (@sdconnor) October 7, 2015

[h/t @universalhub]

Daniel said rail operators could not allow passengers to exit impacted trains because they were not stopped at or near station platforms.

“Safety becomes a big issue and it’s safer to keep the passengers on the train as opposed to letting them de-board,” Daniel said.

In past extreme cases, the T has let commuters off of disabled trains.

Last winter, Red Line commuters stranded for more than two hours ended up trudging through the snow to shuttle buses after their train broke down between Quincy Center and Quincy Adams stops.