The Associated Press

A commuter train hit a maintenance crew Tuesday, killing two workers and seriously injuring two others, transportation officials said.

The afternoon train was headed from Lowell to Boston with 43 passengers when it struck a piece of track repair equipment near a station in suburban Woburn. Two other workers and about 10 passengers were treated for minor injuries.

One worker was on the equipment and five others were nearby, said Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The workers were using a piece of equipment called a "speed swing," which uses a hook to lift rail ties.

Earlier trains had been switched to parallel tracks, said Scott Farmelant, a spokesman for the commuter rail system. It was unclear why the train that hit the crew was on the track where the crew was working.

About 10 passengers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries and because they were "shaken up," Pesaturo said.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The workers were employees of Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co., a consortium hired by the MBTA in 2003 to manage and operate the commuter rail system. MBCR General Counsel Richard A. Davey Jr. said the organization was "stunned and deeply saddened" by the crash.