Brush fires, storms trigger major rail delays across Philadelphia region

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A chaotic day of brush fires and severe weather resulted in suspended rail lines, leaving passengers across the Philadelphia region facing long delays and scrambling for alternate transportation on Wednesday.

SEPTA services have resumed, while Amtrak is still having residual delays Thursday morning.

Travelers packed 30th Street Station after Amtrak halted service between Philadelphia and New York because of two large brush fires near tracks in North Philadelphia. SEPTA's Trenton Line was also suspended.

NJ Transit rail service into and out of the Penn Station was also temporarily suspended on Wednesday due to a brush fire near one of the Hudson River tunnels, according to our sister station WABC. That service has since resumed.

Jay Jfre of Hampton, Va., said her trip unraveled shortly after she arrived at 30th Street Station before noon.

"Hectic. Very, very hectic," Jfre said. She added that she spent the afternoon "waiting, killing time, making friends...just keeping the energy positive."

Aerial footage showed fierce flames and thick smoke near North 2nd Street and West Erie Avenue, as well as West Glenwood and West Allegheny avenues. Amtrak restored service after 3 p.m., but thunderstorms later moved through the area, creating new disruptions.

Amtrak said Keystone Service trains between Philadelphia and Harrisburg were suspended because of downed trees on wires.

Haley Sanders of Phoenixville, who had flown in from Switzerland, said she opted to wait for a car ride to Paoli after experiencing delays.

"A very long travel day. It's annoying. It is what it is." Sanders said.

Jeff Moseley of Downingtown said he left the train to catch an Uber. He ended up sharing the ride with another stranded traveler after prices surged from about $30 to nearly $200.

"Anxious. Ready to go home." Moseley said. "She's like, 'I'm going to Downingtown too, why don't we just split it?' So I said, 'Fine, let's get out of here.'"

At SEPTA's Jenkintown Station, heavy rain poured down stairways as the agency reported multiple delays and suspended lines due to fallen trees.

"I'm feeling fine, but a bunch of other people are not taking it very well," said Dante of Montgomery County.

Despite the setbacks, many passengers shared the same goal: "Stay dry and get home." Jfre said.

Officials reported no injuries.

The health department said it is monitoring air quality near the brush fires to ensure there are no threats.