MARC passengers should expect "major service disruptions" on the Brunswick Line Monday after a CSX freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in D.C., the Maryland Transit Administration says.
The Brunswick Line is currently blocked between Union Station and Silver Spring due to the derailment, according to MTA.
The Brunswick Line will operate on a very limited service.
The following Brunswick Line trains are the only trains that will operate Monday morning. All three trains will make all stops and terminate at Silver Spring. Passengers continuing to Washington may transfer to Metro at Rockville or Silver Spring:
- Train 892 (6:05am departure from Frederick)
- Train 878 (6:25am departure from Martinsburg)
- Train 880 (7:45am departure from Brunswick)
The following Brunswick Line trains are the only trains that will operate in evening service on Monday. All three trains will originate at Silver Spring and make all stops:
- Train 875 – It will depart Silver Spring at 4:39pm.
- Train 893 – It will depart Silver Spring at 5:34pm.
- Train 881 – It will hold 30 minutes and depart Silver Spring at 7:04pm. This train will terminate in Brunswick; EPTA buses will meet the train at Brunswick for service to Harpers Ferry, Duffields, and Martinsburg.
CSX crews are expected to work overnight to clean up the chemicals spilled after the 175-car train derailed near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station in D.C.
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Fourteen of the train cars went off the tracks and three of those cars leaked chemicals includng sodium hydroxide, a calcium chloride solution and ethanol. All leaks have been sealed, CSX said.
CSX did not have a timeline for how soon the chemicals would be cleaned from the area or how long it would take to move the trains from the tracks.
MARC said Brunswick Line passengers should consider alternate options for Monday's commute.
Those options include:
- Metro: Passengers can show MARC tickets to the Metrorail station managers to enter the station. Metro parking charges, however, are not included and must be paid upon exiting the parking lot. Reimbursement is not provided.
- MTA Commuter Bus is working to add additional buses to the 505 and 515 lines. All MARC tickets will be honored on both routes. These buses operate from Hagerstown, Frederick and Monocacy to Shady Grove Metro.
- Passengers boarding at Germantown and points east may utilize Ride-On bus service to connect to Washington Metro. Ride-On buses honor all MARC weekly and monthly passes.
