Travelers heading to and from Denver International Airport on the Regional Transportation District’s A Line train faced delays up to 30 minutes, and many trips were canceled Tuesday, after a copper wire theft caused signal problems, agency officials said.
RTD officials canceled at least 24 trips. Trains were running every 30 minutes, with eastbound trains leaving Union Station at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour, officials said.
Copper wire thefts at the Clayton Street crossing affected signals at four crossings from York to Dahlia streets, RTD spokeswoman Pauline Haberman confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Gates at York/Josephine Street, Clayton Street, Steele Street, and Dahlia Street were down, blocking vehicle traffic, “in fail-safe mode,” Haberman said.
This caused vehicle backups.
“Crews are working to repair the signals and return the A Line to normal service,” Haberman said. “Crossing protections are in place for each of the four crossings which require operators to stop, then proceed and sound train horns as trains proceed through the crossings.”
The westbound train from DIA to Union Station will leave at 12 minutes and 42 minutes past the hour. Updated are available online.
Transportation officials reported the signal problem just before 10:30 a.m.
DIA officials were expecting more than 845,000 passengers to pass through airport security during the Thanksgiving travel period and indicated Tuesday likely would be one of the busiest days.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
