Philly commuter train catches fire

By The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia commuter train caught fire Wednesday, complicating the morning rush already hampered by the city’s transit strike. Officials said no injuries were reported.

Flames could be seen shooting from the front of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority regional train shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday. A big cloud of smoke also billowed from the train, which was heading east from the Overbrook station in West Philadelphia toward the Amtrak station in Center City.

The sudden strike called early Tuesday by Transport Workers Union Local 234 all but crippled the agency, which averages more than 928,000 trips each weekday. The transit agency’s largest union walked away from negotiations on a new contract over disagreements on wage, pension and health care issues.