PORTLAND, Ore. — A TriMet MAX train and a Portland Streetcar were knocked off the tracks after colliding with each other Wednesday morning in the Lloyd District, Portland Fire & Rescue reported.
The operator and a passenger on the streetcar were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. When crews arrived, the streetcar operator was pinned inside and had to be extricated.
The crash happened around 10 a.m. Wednesday. The streetcar was heading south on Northeast 7th Avenue and the train was heading west on Holladay Street when they collided and derailed.
The reason for the collision is unknown at this point. Officials said it was either operator error or there was something wrong with the signal.
Photos: MAX train, Streetcar collide in Portland
Traffic impact
The intersection of Northeast 7th Avenue and Holladay Street remains closed for the next few hours, but the Blue, Green and Red line trains are now running, according to a TriMet Public Affairs release Wednesday evening.
"With both MAX and Portland Streetcar vehicles derailing, it's difficult to say when we'll be able to return to regular service," the agency said.
Portland Streetcar said a loop service was suspended during the investigation and "re-rail operation," as well as that travelers should use NS Line for westside trips and the TriMet Line 6 bus for eastside trips.
TriMet reported the following impacts to MAX train service:
- Green Line service was disrupted. It had run only between the Clackamas Town Center and Gateway/Northeast 99th Avenue transit centers, with no service through downtown. Shuttle buses were serving stations between Old Town/Chinatown and Gateway transit centers. Travelers could board the Orange and Yellow lines for service between the Rose Quarter and Portland State University.
- Blue Line service was disrupted. Shuttle buses were serving stations between Old Town/Chinatown and Lloyd Center/Northeast 11th Avenue.
- Red Line service was disrupted. It had previously been running only between the Gateway/Northeast 99th Avenue transit center and Portland International Airport. Travelers can board the Blue Line for service between the Beaverton and Gateway transit centers.
- Orange and Yellow Lines were not affected.
TriMet said people traveling on MAX trains should expect major delays. It added, "The shuttle bus route has been extended to serve stations between Old Town/Chinatown and Gateway Transit Center/NE 99th Ave. We did this to give us more space to move the derailed train."
"We encourage MAX Blue, Green and Red line riders to plan some extra time and continue watching our service alerts at trimet.org/alerts," it said.
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