PRT Red Line T service disrupted during Thursday morning commute

Damage from a tree that fell on the Red Line tracks at the Kelton stop in Dormont caused Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to halt Red Line service Wednesday night and Thursday morning and reroute traffic over the Blue Line.

The tree fell on the tracks but also pulled down overhead wires in the process, according to PRT spokesman Adam Brandolph.

“The power lines were compromised between Dormont and Potomac (stations); therefore, the Red Line was closed to all traffic,” Brandolph said. “Our power and signal team went out, inspected the rails, inspected the overhead, confirmed the damage and immediately began repairs.”

The repairs were completed during the early portion of Thursday morning’s busy commute. PRT had two rail shuttles operating between Overbrook Junction and Dormont and a bus shuttle running between South Hills Junction and Dormont to take passengers to the Blue Line to get into Downtown.

“We had a track inspector go out to make sure that when a car does go over (the tracks), it’s not going to derail. That occurred at 6:30 this morning, and Red Line service was back by 7 a.m.,” Brandolph said.