‘Communication outage’ knocks out MARC trains between Maryland and DC for several hours
Jack Birle
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The Maryland Transit Administration announced Friday morning that service on Maryland Area Rail Commuter trains had resumed after an hourslong suspension.
The train service suspension was announced by the MTA at about 6 a.m., with more than 20 trains being canceled as a result of the outage.
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“Due to a system wide outage all service has been temporary suspended. No estimated time for restoration of service. Technicians are working to restore service,” MTA tweeted Friday.
At 9:43 a.m., the MTA announced service had been restored with the “system wide communication outage” having been restored and the system being run on a reduced schedule.
MTA Administrator Holly Arnold said the communications outage was related to the Positive Train Control system, which prevents trains from colliding, derailing at speed, and entering work zones, among other things.
The MARC system connects various cities in Maryland with Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
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The system outage for MARC trains comes a week after the FAA had to ground flights nationwide due to an outage to the NOTAM system, which relays important messages to pilots.