A late-night Red Line Rapid commute turned tense early Wednesday when a train near the West Boulevard–Cudell station suddenly filled with smoke and a small fire broke out, sending three passengers to MetroHealth Hospital. Cleveland police helped usher other riders out of the smoky car while firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and had the damaged unit towed off the tracks. Transit police and EMS stayed on scene as officials started digging into what triggered the smoke.
According to 19 News, GCRTA said the call came in at about 1:40 a.m. reporting smoke and a fire on the Red Line near West Boulevard–Cudell. Transit police escorted roughly 10 passengers off the affected car, and Cleveland EMS took three people to MetroHealth to be treated for smoke inhalation. Cleveland Fire put out the small blaze, and the train was later hauled back to the agency’s Rail District for a closer look.
Red Line Maintenance And Past Incidents
For longtime riders, this is not the first time the Red Line has seen flames. In 2021, a train near West Park caught fire after contact between an overhead power line and the train’s pantograph. That incident forced an evacuation but, unlike this week’s scare, did not result in injuries, according to News 5 Cleveland. More recently, RideRTA has flagged targeted track work this spring, including single‑tracking around West Blvd–Cudell, which can increase the chances of delays while crews tackle repairs, per rider alerts posted by RideRTA.
Response And Investigation
GCRTA Transit Police and Cleveland Fire responded to the scene and moved riders to safety as crews dealt with the smoky car. The transit agency said the affected train was towed back to the Rail District for further inspection, and there were no reports of arrests or criminal activity tied to the incident, according to 19 News. A cause for the smoke has not yet been released, and investigators remain on the case.
Riders with questions can check RideRTA's Rider Alerts or call Transit Police dispatch at 216‑566‑5163 for updates. General customer lines and alert pages are available on the agency’s website at RideRTA. This story will be updated as officials share more details.
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