Baltimore Light Rail suspended in Dec 2023 due to mechanical issues (fixed now)

[DetroitMan]

MTA indefinitely suspending light rail services starting Friday

The Maryland Transit Administration is suspending light rail services indefinitely starting Friday.

MTA Administrator Holly Arnold did not provide a timetable for when service would return during a news conference Thursday and said the department will provide free shuttle buses along the light rail route, which typically serves 10,000 riders per day from Hunt Valley through downtown Baltimore, past its sports stadiums, to BWI Marshall Airport.

“We’re going to start immediately with inspections and repairs. I can’t give a timeline,” Arnold said. “As soon as we have a better sense of timeline, we’re going to be sharing that with our riders.”

In an interview at the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference Thursday evening, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said that service would be restored “when it’s safe.” In the meantime, he said, the Department of Transportation will supplement the suspended service with extra buses for commuters.According to Wiedefeld, express buses from larger park and ride lots will be provided for people who plan to attend the Ravens game Sunday.

Arnold added that inter-car connecting cables have caused three smoke events in the past four months causing minor injuries for a rider and a police officer, and that full service would resume when the MTA has 19 railcars repaired and available. Arnold said while the MTA is undergoing a $160 million “overhaul” of its light rail service, some of the repairs might be under warranty.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/12...arting-friday/