T service shutdown during rush hour leaves riders scrambling for alternatives

PITTSBURGH — An electrical fire brought Pittsburgh’s T service to a standstill between Washington Junction and South Hills for several hours Monday afternoon.

The Red and Blue lines on the rail service were shut down in both directions between the two stations affecting at least 16 stops during rush hour.

Rider Sean Mulwe was trying to make his way home to Beechview from work at South Hills Village but wasn’t able to hop on the rail system at that station.

“They told me I had to go ahead and take a bus for some reason,” Mulwe said. “My mom had let me know beforehand but I wasn’t fully sure what was going on.”

PRT officials said a West Penn Power utility pole caught fire in Bethel Park around 2:10 p.m., impacting lines above the rail car lines.

The fire did not damage any PRT property, but police said it caused a widespread power outage in the north end of Bethel Park, leaving fewer rail cars running during rush hour.

At one point, according to West Penn Power, there were nearly 1,500 people without power in Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair.

Ashton Hormuth, a single mother of a two-year-old who relies on the T, was left scrambling.

“I’ve been out in the rain all day. I’m rained on,” Hormuth said. “I’m pushing a stroller...and I still have to get milk and groceries.”

During the temporary suspension, three PRT shuttle buses took riders from Washington Junction to South Hills Village via a route on Library Road, Bethel Church Road, and Fort Couch Road.

The change of plans caused a lot of confusion for many riders and even some workers.

“The people on the T never really know what’s going on,” one rider said who didn’t want to be identified. “They’re not being told and say, ‘We don’t know. No one tells us,’ so there seems to be a lack of communication to the operators. It’s a love-hate relationship. When they’re good, they’re good. When they’re not it’s really bad.”

Rider Sean Mulwe said, “I think it was a lot of confusion in the beginning, so I can’t blame the reasoning for my longer commute.”

West Penn Power made a temporary repair to the utility pole allowing the T service to resume. By 7 p.m., the city’s light rail system was back up and running with some residual delays until service caught up to regular schedules.

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