The Monongahela Incline shut down indefinitely Thursday after both cars stalled the night before, trapping two passengers and requiring a technical rope rescue operation. This is the second such incident in roughly six months.
The stoppage occurred around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. One passenger was aboard each car when they stalled, each coming to rest approximately 80 feet from its respective station. Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS Technical Rescue Team crews, including Rescue 1 and Rescue 2, conducted a high-angle rope rescue operation. Both passengers were removed around 1 a.m. Thursday. No injuries were reported.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit attributed the malfunction to the incline’s control system. Maintenance crews worked overnight but were unable to restore service. PRT briefly announced around 6 a.m. that the incline had resumed operation, only to pull it back out of service roughly an hour later. Since then, PRT said the incline would remain closed until further notice, pending repairs, testing, and a required state inspection.
Shuttle buses are transporting riders between Station Square and the upper Mount Washington station in the interim.
The incident is the second of its kind since November 2025, when 27 passengers were trapped after both cars stalled shortly after leaving their stations.
PRT said Thursday it was still determining the exact cause of the latest malfunction.
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