Trouble at MARTA

Service on the east-west line was interrupted for more than 2 1/2 hours, and MARTA warned passengers to expect delays once limited service was restored.

Service between Hamilton E. Holmes and the Five Points stations came to a halt after a train operator noticed smoke underneath a train. The incident occurred around 5:45 a.m. between the Ashby and Vine City stations.

MARTA responded by running bus shuttles between Hamilton E. Holmes and Five Points.

In addition, a fire in a Midtown tunnel prompted MARTA to stop service on the north-south line between Five Points and Lindbergh.

Before service was restored on that line about 7:20 a.m., tempers flared in the Midtown station bus loop. Frustrated passengers already late for work crowded around arriving buses, unclear as to which bus would take them where.

Riders who packed a bus headed for Arts Center learned that the north-south service had been restored and were dropped off at that station. Within minutes, the North Springs-bound train that had been evacuated at the Midtown station slowly rumbled into view.

Passengers stranded at Midtown Station and receiving conflicting information on buses. Tempers were flaring as passengers yelled at Marta supervisors.