BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration has launched a web page to provide information on the ongoing suspension of light rail service, shut down since Dec. 8 because of issues with the railcar fleet.
The page, available here, includes maps on the shuttle bus operation that is replacing the light rail service, and will provide information on the resumption of service as it becomes available. Plans call for limited service to resume when eight cars are available and full service when 19 cars have been approved. It also cautions that some cars may be in operation before service resumes while inspection, maintenance, and testing is in progress.
Problems with electrical wiring, which led to at least one fire and several “smoke incidents,” led to the entire railcar fleet being sidelined [see “Baltimore light rail line shut down …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 8, 2023]. The MTA has not yet been able to provide an estimate when service will resume.
Meanwhile, work crews are making use of the shutdown to perform track work ahead of schedule, MTA Administrator Holly Arnold said in a social media post: “We’ve advanced several projects to avoid future disruptions.”
A picture of the damaged conduit would be helpful. More to point what material was the conduit made? Flex plastic, PVC, aluminum, steel, etc? What material will replacements be made of?