Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 12, 2008

Suspicious package suspends service on Orange, Blue Lines

Orange and Blue Line riders will experience significant delays throughout rush hour this morning as a suspicious package near elevated tracks has caused service to be suspended temporarily on the Orange and Blue Lines.

A suspicious package along Benning Road has halted Metrorail train service between Benning Road and Stadium-Armory on the Blue Line and between Minnesota Avenue and Stadium-Armory on the Orange Line as of about 5 a.m. DC and Metro Transit Police are on the scene investigating. No Blue or Orange Line trains are able to head inbound from Maryland on the eastern end of the rail system and no Blue or Orange Line trains are able to get past Stadium-Armory headed outbound toward Maryland.

Free shuttle buses are available at Stadium-Armory, Minnesota Ave and Benning Road Metrorail stations to help move people around the incident. The shuttle bus service was established by 6 a.m. Riders should keep in mind that a shuttle bus can carry a maximum of 60 people, however a full eight-car train can carry more than 800 people, so there will be very long waits for shuttle buses. Riders should expect delays of more than an hour.

Even though this situation is located on the eastern end of the Orange and Blue Lines, it will impact service throughout the lines because trains are turning back in areas that they do not normally turn and trains are not in their customary strategic locations to move riders efficiently.

Trains will resume service as soon as the police clear the scene.

News release issued at 5:55 am, September 12, 2008.