Harpers Ferry rail bridge fire creating complications for commuters
BRUNSWICK, Md. (DC News Now) — The rail fire Monday on the Maryland Heights Bridge in Harpers Ferry was causing disruptions for commuters and freight deliveries in the region.
The fire broke out around 3:40 p.m. on the train tracks near Route 340 causing Amtrak trains to cancel their routes and turn back around.
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Cyclist Doug Pfeifer happened to be in the historic West Virginia town when he encountered fire and rescue units from five neighboring jurisdictions converge on the scene.
“It was just a bunch of smoke out of the tunnel,” Pfeiffer said. “It was black and gray. We were concerned, wondered what had happened.”
By nightfall Monday, the situation was under control. But not without interruption to Tuesday’s commuter rail service on the MARC line.
“Martinsburg trains are laying over here in Brunswick because they obviously can’t go up that way with the tracks and all that stuff being on fire last night,” Ryan Wheeler, with the rail maintenance crew, said.
The CSX double-track line has been shut down at Harpers Ferry and Amtrak’s Capitol Limited line was cancelled Tuesday.
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The cancellations concerned Barbara Hackel who will be biking to Washington, D.C. by week’s end where she hopes to board Amtrak for her ride home to Chicago.
“I’m hoping that Amtrak can handle the passengers that need to get to their destinations and have something worked out, a plan, by Saturday,” Hackel said.
As of Tuesday, MARC Rail was trying to arrange bus service for riders that are being affected.
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