Water Pours from Ceiling at South Station in Boston

Contractor working on tower above station impacts sprinkler line, causing flooding in concourse area.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Commuters at Boston's South Station were met with an unexpected downpour on Thursday morning as water cascaded down from the ceiling of the concourse area. The incident was caused by a contractor working on the tower above the station impacting a pressurized sprinkler line, sending water pouring into the busy transportation hub.

Why it matters

South Station is a major transit hub in Boston, serving commuter rail, subway, and intercity rail passengers. Any disruptions to the station's operations can cause significant delays and inconvenience for thousands of travelers. This incident highlights the importance of coordinating construction work to avoid impacts to critical infrastructure.

The details

A contractor working for Hines, the company that owns the tower over South Station, accidentally impacted a sprinkler line in their building, causing water to pour down into the concourse area below. The water flooded the floor near the gates, forcing officials to cordon off the affected area and shut down some of the new commuter rail entry gates until the water stopped. There was no impact to rail service, other than some fare gates going offline temporarily.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday morning, February 12, 2026.

The players

Hines

The company that owns the tower over South Station and was overseeing the construction work that led to the water leak.

MassDOT

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which oversees the operations of South Station.

MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which operates the commuter rail, subway, and other public transportation services at South Station.

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What they’re saying

“It was coming down very, very heavy.”

— Jillian Shannon, Commuter (NBC10 Boston)

“What I find fascinating is that they announce they have gates, but they always give you a heads up that you are supposed to use them but they are never working.”

— Fabienne Kolakovic, Passenger (NBC10 Boston)

What’s next

Hines, the company that owns the tower over South Station, is working with MassDOT and the MBTA to restore the impacted area and ensure the safety of commuters. The building owner has stated that safety remains a high priority, and they were grateful for the rapid response to the incident.

The takeaway

This incident at South Station highlights the importance of careful coordination and planning when conducting construction work near critical transportation infrastructure. While the water leak did not significantly disrupt rail service, it caused inconvenience for commuters and underscores the need for proactive measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.