Capital MetroRail Service Shut Down As Man Cooks Food On Tracks

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- Capital MetroRail service in East Austin this week was interrupted for several hours after a man was discovered cooking on the tracks.

Austin police on arrested Richard Ray Conger, 58, after the homeless man was found cooking food on the stretch of track near Interstate 35 and 38 ½ Street, KEYE-TV reports. The site is near a Fiesta Mart grocery store.

The man’s makeshift food preparation Tuesday morning was discovered after reports of smoke emanating from the location, the station reports. Firefighters were called to quickly extinguish the small fire.

CapMetro officials said they had to secure six off-track buses to transport passengers to their destination -- at a cost of $2,700 -- while police and fire officials cleared the scene at the tracks.

Conger was charged with interference of railroad property.

The incident marks the second time in as many days this week a member of the public has interfered with rail service.

On Wednesday morning, a motorist’s vehicle became stalled on tracks in South Austin. Brandon Grant, 29, was able to exit his stuck vehicle before the oncoming train collided with it.

Grant was subsequently charged with DWI.