MBTA Operator Cleared Of Fault In Red Line Derailment

Transit officials say the operator of a Red Line train that derailed in Boston this week was not at fault in the mishap.

The MBTA says that the investigation into Tuesday's derailment — the second within a matter of days on the region's transit system — continues, as do efforts to repair damage to switches and signals at the JFK/UMass station.

Disruptions and delays continue for many Red Line commuters as a result of the mishap. T leaders says there is no estimate for when service will be fully restored.

At a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said more than 100 workers and contractors had finished repairs to the third rail and the T's power systems on the Red Line. However, crews were still working on fixing switches and the signal system, the latter of which Poftak said had suffered significant damage.

"We are still assessing how much longer it will take to fix it," he said.

Until the signal system is fixed, he said, trains will continue to run at reduced speeds.

Poftak again encouraged commuters Friday evening to take additional commuter rail trains being provided as an alternative to the Red Line. Riders just need to flash their Charlie Cards or Charlie Tickets, which will serve as their fares, on the commuter rail trains.

No serious injuries were reported in the most recent derailment.

Nearly a dozen people were hurt in a Green Line derailment on Saturday that investigators have blamed on operator error. The T has suspended that operator.

With reporting from The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom