Problems Halt MARC, Metro, Amtrak Trains. Suspicious Package, Fire Stop Trains

POSTED: 6:13 pm EDT March 14, 2007
UPDATED: 6:36 am EDT March 15, 2007

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Authorities have given the "all clear" to reopen the Rockville Metro and Amtrak stations, but not before hundreds of rush-hour commuters were stranded and delayed for hours.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said that several suspicious packages that were not accompanying a passenger have been cleared by the bomb squad and the owner was identified.

The packages were on Amtrak train 29 on its way from Union Station in Washington to Chicago. Piringer said the owner was not on the train and didn't know why.

Several police and transit agencies are now working on getting evacuated passengers back on their trains, buses and routes.

The stations were closed at about 5:30 p.m. and reopened around 7:30 p.m.

MARC spokeswoman Holly Henderson said the incident affected five MARC trains and possibly up to 2,000 passengers. Three trains were stuck at Union Station and two others were on the tracks east of Rockville, with the passengers still on them.

More:
http://www.nbc4.com/news/11254370/detail.html

the FUD dial up a notch or two.