Outage traps rail riders for an hour

ST. LOUIS -- About 60 passengers on St. Louis' light rail system were trapped for about an hour Monday after power lines fell onto their rail car.

The accident happened just before noon, when a backhoe working in Forest Park knocked a utility pole onto a westbound train. The pole apparently fell onto the electric lines that power the trains, knocking out power to four MetroLink stations.

Concerns about live wires forced authorities to keep 59 people inside the cars until electrical and fire crews allowed them to get off the train at 1:15 p.m.

Buses picked up passengers and took them to another train station.

Jones said it was unclear when the service would be restored, but rush-hour delays were expected.