WASHINGTON — The Maryland Transit Administration announced there will be “extremely limited service” on the Camden Line Thursday morning.
MTA officials say the limited service is due to brush fires that disrupted service Wednesday night.
Officials add the reduction in service is necessary due to Federal Railroad Administration regulations regarding mandatory off-duty (rest) time that conductors and engineers must observe between shifts.
The following Camden Line trains are the only trains that will operate Thursday morning:
- Train 845 (6:10 a.m. departure from Camden Yards)
- Train 851 (8:05 a.m. departure from Camden Yards)
- Train 846 (8 a.m. departure from Union Station)
These trains will operate with additional capacity, however they will not be able to transport all Camden Line passengers that ride on a typical day.
MTA is encouraging Camden Line passengers to consider the following options:
- Drive to a Penn Line station. Camden Line tickets will be honored to/from comparable stations on the Penn Line.
- The Washington Metrorail option will be open. Show your MARC ticket to the Metrorail Station Manager, and they will permit you to enter through the gate next to the information kiosk. Please note that Metro parking charges, however are not included and must be paid upon exiting the parking lot. Reimbursement is not provided.
- Laurel and Muirkirk passengers: The Washington Metrobus Route 89 is also available; your MARC weekly or monthly ticket is always honored on this and other Metrobuses.
MARC anticipates operating full Camden Line service Thursday evening.
Around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, fire crews from Howard, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties responded for multiple brush fires along the CSX railroad lines from the Howard and Baltimore County line to the Anne Arundel County line.
Picture from this evenings brush fires #HoCoMD @HCDFRS pic.twitter.com/CHfw5JzFI4
— Howard Co Fire & EMS (@HCDFRS) March 24, 2016
CSX representatives also responded due to the disruption in rail service.
All trains were held outside the affected area until the fires were under control around 8:30 p.m. Officials say two small storage sheds were damaged. There were no reported injuries.
The origin and cause of the fire are currently under investigation.
