Maryland Transport Systems Hit by Cyberattack, Officials Confirm
▼ Summary
– The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is experiencing a cyber incident from unauthorized system access, potentially disrupting some transport services.
– Most core transit services, including buses, rail, and paratransit, are currently operating as scheduled with all previously booked Mobility trips being honored.
– Disruptions affect Mobility Paratransit Services for new bookings, real-time updates, call center support, and Baltimore Metro Subway elevators due to emergency phone issues.
– The MTA is investigating and remediating the issue with support from the Maryland DoIT, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement partners.
– The Statewide Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate the response, and riders with urgent medical needs are advised to contact healthcare providers or emergency services.
Travelers across Maryland are facing service disruptions following a confirmed cyberattack targeting the state’s transit infrastructure. Officials from the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced that unauthorized access to certain systems has impacted operations, though many core services remain functional.
In a statement released on August 24, the MTA acknowledged the security breach while reassuring the public that essential transit options, including Local Bus, Metro Subway, Light Rail, MARC, Mobility, Call-A-Ride, and Commuter Bus, are still running according to their regular timetables. The agency also confirmed via social media that all pre-scheduled Mobility trips for the current week will proceed as planned.
Despite these efforts, several services have been notably affected. Mobility Paratransit Services are temporarily unable to accept new bookings or reschedule existing trips. Real-time service updates and call center support are also offline. Additionally, elevators at Baltimore Metro Subway stations have been taken out of service due to the unavailability of emergency elevator phones, raising accessibility concerns for many riders.
The MTA is actively addressing the situation in coordination with the Maryland Department of Information Technology, external cybersecurity specialists, and law enforcement agencies. An investigation is underway to determine the scope and origin of the incident while remediation efforts continue.
For those requiring transportation, the MTA recommends eligible riders use the Call-A-Ride program as an alternative. Individuals with urgent medical needs are advised to contact healthcare providers or emergency services directly.
In response to the incident, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management has activated the Statewide Emergency Operations Center to coordinate a unified response. The SEOC brings together representatives from MDEM, MTA, DoIT, and other relevant state agencies to manage the situation and restore full operational normalcy as quickly as possible.
(Source: Info Security)