Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-2150

Two transformers explode at Long Beach substation, halting Blue Line service

Mar 2018Published 8 Oct 2026Responsible editor: George, Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisionalNext update 8 Oct

Estimated damage ModelledLow confidencesupply cut for •• daysShown in the record Full estimateHow? Know the real figure?

Companies named in this entry: Southern California Edison

What happened

Two transformers exploded at a high-voltage electrical substation in Long Beach, California, at about 12:15 p.m. on Friday 23 March 2018, according to the Long Beach Fire Department. Smoke was reported coming from the substation in the 2700 block of West American Avenue, near the Blue Line Willow station. The resulting power outage stopped Blue Line trains between the Del Amo and Downtown Long Beach stations. Southern California Edison had restored power, and trains were running again by about 2 p.m., with residual delays of up to 15 minutes and supplementary bus shuttles in Long Beach. The cause was not reported.

Contributing factors

The source does not report the cause of the transformer explosions.

Lessons learned

A substation transformer failure can cut power to nearby rail services, so utilities and transport operators need a shared plan for disruption.
Prompt restoration and public updates can limit how long trains are stopped and allow bus shuttles to cover the gap.
Where the cause is not yet known, operators should still investigate the failed transformers, protection and site response before treating the event as closed.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Source

presstelegram.com

Other entries that name Long

Fires reported at three PSEG substations on Long Island EIR-1736 · 2023
Fire at PSEG Long Island substation in Bridgehampton EIR-1100 · 2020

Published 2026-10-08. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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