Keolis crew responded quickly to emergency on Cape Flyer train and prevented injuries

July 28, 2025 (BOSTON, MA) – At last week’s MBTA Board of Directors meeting, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan recognized four Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) employees for their actions to ensure passenger safety when a Cape Flyer train struck a downed tree amid sudden strong storms on the evening of July 3.

"Our operating employees, no matter what mode of MBTA service, have a monumental amount of responsibility placed upon them,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “This crew exemplifies the acceptance of this responsibility as well as attention to duty, and we are grateful for their dedication."

“I am extremely proud of the crew operating this Cape Flyer train,” said Keolis CEO and General Manager Abdellah Chajai. “Their quick thinking and professionalism ensured that no one on board was injured. Safety is the top priority at Keolis, and these conductors and engineers exemplified that commitment with their actions on July 3.”

Vincent Colombo, John Folan, Brandon Quaranto, and Kyle Smith were presented with certificates recognizing their outstanding performance.

The crew was operating a Boston-bound Cape Flyer trip when the train struck a tree in Wareham around 11:15 p.m. during a severe storm that swept through the area. The crew safely stopped the train despite extensive damage to the locomotive and was able to reverse it to Wareham Station without any injuries to passengers or crew on board ahead of the busy Fourth of July weekend.

Keolis Commuter Services has operated and maintained the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system, the sixth largest commuter rail operation in North America, for over ten years. KCS is a subsidiary of Keolis North America (KNA), both headquartered in Boston, and employs approximately 2,500 people throughout the region. KCS and KNA are part of Keolis Group, an innovative global leader in transit services with more than a century of passenger transportation experience and operations in 13 countries.    

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