WASHINGTON, D.C. — An Amtrak passenger train and a MARC train sideswiped each other in Baltimore during yesterday’s afternoon rush hour, causing three minor injuries and delaying hundreds of commuters as well as rail travelers between Washington and New York. Two commuter passenger cars and an Amtrak locomotive derailed, the Washington Post reports.
The accident caused confusion among passengers at Washington’s Union Station who were planning to take northbound trains. It was not clear last night how much the accident would affect service this morning on the MARC Penn line and on the main Amtrak line between Washington and New York.
Although Amtrak expected to have the tracks cleared by this morning, a spokeswoman said she was “not sure how frequent” service would be.
[Due to Monday evening’s derailment on the Penn Line, just south of Penn Station in Baltimore, MARC train service has experienced disruptions that will continue this morning until approximately 9:40 a.m.]
[Penn Line service will operate to Washington southbound only Tuesday morning. No service will be possible north of Baltimore’s Penn Station, from Baltimore’s Penn Station or the West Baltimore, Halethorpe and BWI MARC stations this morning. Metro will honor MARC tickets from the New Carrolton and Greenbelt Stations.]
[The Camden Line is an option for Penn Line customers, particularly from Dorsey station where more parking exists. However, seating will be limited.]
A MARC spokeswoman advised commuters to check for information this morning by looking at the line’s Web site or by telephoning 410-539-5000 after 6 a.m.
According to spokeswomen for the two rail lines, an Amtrak train traveling from Florida to New York with about 140 people on board and a commuter train carrying 60 passengers, which had just left Penn Station, collided about 5:35 p.m.
The last two cars of the commuter train and one of the two Amtrak locomotives left the tracks but remained upright. The derailed passenger cars were empty.
Although the collision appeared to occur near a switch, the trains were on different tracks, according to Battalion Chief Charles Paylor of the Baltimore Fire Department. Both trains were moving slowly because of proximity to the station, he said.
MARC provided rail service after the accident from Washington as far north as Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Passengers were taken from there to Baltimore by bus, the MARC spokeswoman said.