(The following story by Peter Mucha appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on June 14.)
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA and Amtrak train service through northern Delaware has been disrupted this morning by a disabled tractor-trailer.
SEPTA has suspended its R2 line between Marcus Hook and Newark, Del. The R2 is still running, however, between Marcus and Philadelphia, where it stops in Center City and near Temple University.
At 6:20 this morning, the tractor-trailer ran off a highway and wound up blocking three of four tracks near Claymont, Del., according to SEPTA spokesman Felipe Suarez.
Amtrak’s service between Washington and Philadelphia is also affected, although Amtrak has yet to return phone calls and has no advisories posted on its website, www.amtrak.com.
An automated phone service, however, confirmed that Amtrak’s 151 train, scheduled to arrive in Washington at 8:15, is running 32 minutes late.
On the other hand, the 130 regional train from Washington, D.C., the service said, is due to arrive on time in Philadelphia at 8:27.
Concerns about a possible chemical spill and damage to the tracks could mean a lengthy disruption of service along routes that use the tracks, Suarez said.
“If it’s chemical spill, it’s going to take some time,” he said.
Also, since the tracks are Amtrak-owned, “Amtrak inspectors and officials would have to come out and inspect the tracks for some damage,” he said.
Delaware Area Rapid Transit (DART) has agreed to provide limit service from the Marcus Hook station to the Wilmington train station.
To check for the latest SEPTA advisories, go to www.septa.org.