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Transit Resumes Between Boston and NYC After Shutdown for Bomber Manhunt

By  Joe Parziale and Aidan Gardiner | April 19, 2013 12:25pm | Updated on April 20, 2013 1:24pm

MIDTOWN — Rail and bus transit between Boston and New York City resumed over the weekend after it was suspended Friday when police locked down the Boston area in search of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

As police reportedly captured a suspect believed to be Tsarnaev Friday evening in Watertown, Ma., a suburb of Boston, transportation companies began announcing that they would lift suspensions to bus and rail service.

Amtrak had returned to a normal weekend train schedule on Saturday between Boston and New York City, the company said. "We'll honor whatever tickets they had for Friday," said a sopkeswoman, who advised passengers to make changes by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or visiting a ticket counter.

Commuter bus lines like Megabus, Peter Pan, Bolt and Go Bus had all suspended their routes between the cities as well, but Megabus resumed normal service on Saturday, the company announced on Twitter, and Peter Pan announced the return of buses running to and from Boston early Saturday morning.

Due to the crush in demand, Peter Pan offered refunds to any customers who were not able to find space in theirs or Greyhound's busing schedule through Monday, and provided instructions on their website on how to obtain a refund. A Megabus manager also said the company would refund or reschedule any tickets that were unable to be redeemed after the shutdown.

Earlier in the day, all transportation service in Boston was frozen as the city was on lockdown.

"There’s nothing that can come out of, or go into Boston right now. Bus, rail — we’re all at an idle at this point," Chris Crean, a vice president who oversees safety issues for Peter Pan, had said Friday.

"We’re monitoring the news like everyone else and are just waiting for the green light."

More than a hundred frustrated travelers, some carrying luggage, lined up to speak to Amtrak officials about refunds and vouchers in New York's Penn Station Friday afternoon.

Darlene Pierre, 27, had planned to visit her little brother in Boston and scope out possible job prospects.

"Of course I'm disappointed, but I understand the circumstances. They have to do what they have to do to protect the people living there," Pierre said.

Crean said Peter Pan was planning on refunding those riders who were affected by the cancellations and Bolt said riders who had tickets for canceled trips would be automatically refunded.

"We will do something to accommodate those customers who were affected," Crean said. "We'll get them where they need to go."

Travelers are advised to check their line's website for updates.