Red Line Derailment Not Operator's Fault, MBTA Says

BOSTON (CBS) — The MBTA said the operator of the Red Line train that derailed in Dorchester earlier this week was not to blame for the wreck.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo told WBZ-TV Friday the operator was cleared in the investigation, but there is still no official cause for Tuesday's derailment near the JFK-UMass station, which damaged the tracks and signal system.

Check: MBTA Red Line Service Options

The repairs continued Friday as did delays on the Braintree branch, which has not been able to resume full service. The MBTA said it will have an update at a press conference Friday at 2 p.m.

"Now with this train derailment, everyone has been late," said commuter Paul Edwards. His commute time has tripled. "I live right here in Dorchester, so it doesn't make sense that I have to leave three hours early to ride the MBTA."

Read: Number Of MBTA Derailments Among Nation's Highest

This was the second MBTA derailment in less than a week. The operator of a Green Line train was blamed for causing it go off the tracks back on June 8.

Adding to riders' frustration, fares are scheduled to go up July 1. An online petition is demanding the MBTA freeze those hikes until the system is fixed.