MARC Penn Line train breaks down in heat
For the second time this week, a MARC Penn Line train has wilted in the summer's heat, leaving passengers sweltering on a stalled train, ride Danielle Shapiro reports.
Shapiro said the northbound train's engine apparently gave out just outside Odenton and left passengers stuck without air-conditioning for about 35 minutes this evening. She said that as of 6:15 p.m. it appeared to be starting again.
Two days ago another Penn Line Train departing Washington stalled out and left passengers stranded for about 40 minutes, Shapiro said.
Summer is historically the time of year that brings MARC to its knees. The Maryland Transit Administration had made schedule and equipment changes in the hope of alleviating such problems, but the recent incidents raise questions about whether those measures are working.
Comments
Do we know what kind of locomotive was on the trains that broke down: new diesel, old diesel, electric, or...?
Posted by: Traffic Engineer | July 7, 2011 6:37 PM
We've had some bouts of hot weather since the extra trains and schedule trains were added, but this string of successive 90-degree days must really be taking its toll.
Worst of all, now when a train breaks down, it wreaks even more havoc, because you have more trains, departing within minutes of each other and they backup rather quickly.
Posted by: Bill | July 7, 2011 7:01 PM
No mention of the train number involved, but an educated guess is that it was train #436, which I saw leaving with an HHP-8 electric on the lead yesterday. These locos have been no more reliable for Amtrak than they have been for MARC.
On a positive note, Camden Line has been overall been doing pretty good as of late. Despite the heat orders and having to run opposite track from Muirkirk to Laurel Racetrack, train 850 was keeping to schedule yesterday evening!
Posted by: AJ | July 8, 2011 9:39 AM
In the summer I often have to make a choice between the Camden Line and the Penn Line. The Camden Line is always 15 minutes late due to heat orders but the Penn Line runs the risk of breaking down on the hottest days. The Penn Line doesn't get heat orders though, so if it doesn't break down it will not be late.
This is important when I need to be somewhere on time after work. Sometimes, depending on time on the location of my appointment, I just have to forget the MARC and pay to park at Greenbelt and take the Metro.
Posted by: Frank | July 11, 2011 9:10 AM