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Regional Transit Train Catches Fire

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A part of a Regional Transit light rail train went up in flames on Folsom Blvd. and Starfire Drive this morning.

Authorities say the train started smoking at Folsom Blvd., near the Florin-Perkins station.  The operator took passengers on their way to unaffetced cars, leaving the rest of the train for an inspection.

Regional Transit says the mechanic only saw smoke, not fire, and following standard procedure, was going to tow it away.  But, firefighters said there were flames, and the train took off before they could finish putting them out.

"Firefighters were standing outside the train making an assessment, and it left," says Capt. Jonathan Burgess, Sacramento Fire Department. "There was a communication error on their part which they'll look into and we'll want to follow up with RT."

While the train was stuck on the tracks, service on the Gold Line between downtown Sacramento and Folsom was disrupted for more than an hour, which frustrated passengers who waited for their RT buses to arrive.

"I'm just blessed to have a job where I can call in and it won't affect my job, but some people their jobs are on the line so something like this can happen and affect their employment," says Steve Stewart, RT passenger.

There is no word on what caused the fire, but an investigation is underway.

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