Train derailment at South Station affects evening commute

(Bill Brett for The Boston Globe)

Officials conferred at the derailment scene this afternoon.

A commuter train derailed this afternoon outside South Station, causing track damage that affected the evening commute, officials said.

Fifty-five people were on board the train, but there were no reports of injuries, said Scott Farmelant, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad, which runs the commuter rail for the MBTA.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said that two cars had derailed of the six-car Train 614 from Needham. The accident, which happened about 1:37 p.m., initially affected six tracks.

Pesaturo said three of the 150 late afternoon rush hour trains were cancelled. Officials said delays for other trains varied, but did not exceed 30 minutes.

"Railroad crews worked very hard to minimize the impact on commuter rail customers," Pesaturo said.

Pesaturo said that by Friday morning, 11, and perhaps even 12, of the 13 tracks at the station would be open. A small number of trains toward the end of the morning rush hour may experience minor delays, he said in an email statement.

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