Barge hits Amtrak bridge near Havre de Grace

By Saturday evening, trains were running again. But for about five hours, one barge brought the busiest passenger rail corridor in the country to a standstill.

Why It Matters: The Susquehanna River Bridge carries Amtrak, MARC commuter trains and freight between Havre de Grace and Perryville, and any disruption to it ripples across the entire Northeast Corridor — the rail network connecting Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, which moves hundreds of thousands of passengers every day.

What’s Happening: A barge struck the Susquehanna River Bridge Saturday afternoon, and Amtrak suspended all train traffic across the structure while crews inspected it for damage. By 8 p.m., schedules had returned to normal, according to Amtrak’s online tracking.

The bridge itself is more than a century old. Its age and design have long made it a chokepoint on the corridor, and Amtrak began construction on a replacement in 2024 as part of a multibillion-dollar modernization effort.

Between The Lines: The collision happened at about 2:40 p.m. near Havre de Grace. Coast guard officials say shifting winds appear to have pushed the tugboat off course, causing the empty barge it was towing to make contact with the bridge. The damage was limited to the structure’s wooden skirting. No injuries were reported.

Catch Up Quick: By 3:38 p.m., Amtrak posted warnings that all service between Philadelphia and Baltimore could face significant delays. Some trains began moving again shortly after 5 p.m., once the railroad confirmed the bridge was safe. The Coast Guard spokesman described the overall damage as minimal.