Ken Pope
Boston Fire Department crews work an electrical fire by the commuter rail tracks on Saturday, April 4, 2015.
A lightning strike likely caused Saturday's fire in an electrical vault along the Commuter Rail tracks at Forest Hills.
The fire, visible for miles in each direction, sent acrid smoke into the neighborhood.
As of Monday morning, Amtrak crews were still repairing damage to the signals, according to Mac Daniel, media relations manager for Keolis, the company that operates the commuter rail.
Residents are reporting more train horns blowing than usual.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 6:44 a.m. Saturday. It went to two alarms and caused delays to the Orange Line and commuter rail.
For Monday, there are several changes to commuter rail service, according to Daniel:
- All Providence/Stoughton trains inbound to South Station will bypass Ruggles Station.
- Ruggles passengers will need to travel to Back Bay and return to Ruggles via the Orange Line.
- Passengers originating at Ruggles should plan to utilize Orange Line to get to Back Bay or South Station.
- Outbound trains are not impacted and will operate normally.
- Because Amtrak signals are down at Forest Hills, inbound passengers on Franklin, Providence, Stoughton lines can expect their trains to depart on time, but arrive at Back Bay and South Station 20-30 minutes late. Passengers on the Needham line could also experience some residual delays.
Ken Pope
Fire at Forest Hills Station, Saturday, April 4, 2015.