UPDATE: Train Derailment Outside of Baltimore Impacts Verizon Services; 911, Wireless Services Not Affected

BALTIMORE, Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A train derailment west of Baltimore in Ellicott City early this morning (Aug. 21) has damaged Verizon facilities at the site of the accident. 

There is no impact on high-speed Internet (DSL) or FiOS services for consumers and small businesses. Wireless and 911 services are also not affected.  However, some Verizon customers in the area may have trouble completing local and long-distance calls, and services for some business and government customers may also be affected.  

Verizon has received approval from local authorities for its on-site restoration plan but still does not have access to the derailment area.  Verizon technicians are ready to access the damaged facilities when permission is given and will work in round-the-clock shifts until all services are restored.

The company has restored more than half of the affected services by rerouting network traffic to other facilities.   

Verizon will provide a further update by 5 p.m. ET today.   

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 94 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 188,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon