Three Amtrak employees and two other people suffered minor injuries this morning after a low-speed collision between an Amtrak train and a MARC train caused a derailment outside of Union Station. Based on information from D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer, the two trains "bumped" after 9 a.m. this morning, but neither overturned. No customers were on either train at the time of the collision. Now, I realize that when people hear "train derailment," they immediately think of the worst -- so, for context, here's an image of the scene from WAMU reporter Patrick Madden. As you can see, its hardly the wreckage you may have initially imagined. Still, the area is a bit of a mess, and I'm sure there will be plenty of questions to answer about why the two trains were occupying the same section of track at the same time. Both Amtrak and MARC riders should expect delays today due to the investigation of the scene. more ›

Metro has suspended two of its employees following a March 10 derailment at the Brentwood rail yard, the Examiner's Kytja Weir reports. A train operator was suspended for 30 days and an interlocking operator was suspended for 10 days, both without pay. No one was injured in the incident, in which a Red Line train, moving through the rail yard with no passengers aboard, ran a red signal and subsequently derailed. more ›

The Metrorail operator who was involved in the pocket track derailment at the Farragut North station on Feb. 12 has been fired, WMATA officials announced today. more ›

Yet another Metro train derailment occurred Wednesday, this time at low speed in a rail yard with no passengers on board, the Examiner reports. more ›

The Washington Post is reporting that this morning's Red Line train derailment happened "after a safety device automatically engaged and stopped it because it had crossed from its own track and was headed to the opposite track, into the path of oncoming trains." So that means there wasn't anything wrong with the rails or the train that caused the derailment. Rather, there was something wrong in that the train, for reasons not yet known, moved over to the pocket track, where it should never have been. "Both the train operator and the downtown controller responsible for that section of the Red Line were placed on administrative leave and will undergo drug and alcohol testing, as is standard Metro procedure," WaPo says. more ›

A northbound Red Line train derailed near the Farragut North Metro station earlier this morning. No injuries have been reported thus far, but there's a large emergency response outside the station, in the vicinity of 17th and K. The derailment happened at about 10:30 a.m. We'll update with more details as we get them. more ›

Word coming in that a Red Line train derailed while approaching the Ft. Totten Metro station at just after 5 p.m. Metro doesn't have many details yet, but trains are turning back at Brookland and Takoma due the derailment. Fire crews have reportedly responded to the scene but we have no information yet on whether there are injuries. Stay tuned. more ›

The Post reported earlier today that two commercial locomotive cars derailed this morning while traveling through the District. Some Diesel fuel and oil spilled as a result of the derailment, but no injuries were reported. A HazMat team responded to the scene to clean up the oil. The derailment took place about 11:15 a.m. near the 200 block of 33rd Street SE, near Anacostia Park. more ›

WTOP has the story on what caused this morning's major Orange and Blue line delays: a large piece of maintenance equipment derailed near Cheverly. The incident marked the fourth derailment on the Metro system in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, a vacuum maintenance truck derailed twice on the same day along the Orange Line, and later that evening, an empty passenger train derailed at the Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street/Convention Center station. Today's incident damaged some of the tracks near the Cheverly station, which had to be repaired. more ›

The Post's Lena H. Sun followed up this morning on what caused last night's disruption and emergency track work at Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center: a train that carried no passengers derailed. more ›

As pointed out in comments, it looks like we did indeed speak too soon. Lena Sun reports:

The vacuum truck that derailed this morning and caused major delays has derailed again. That means riders between Ballston and West Falls Church can expect delays this afternoon, officials said. more ›

As of 1:46 p.m., Metro says the mess at Court House has now been cleared. That's only about 30 minutes over WMATA's last estimate for when the emergency track work would be completed, though it's several hours past their original guesses. Orange and Blue line delays caused by this incident should be totally clear for the evening commute. UPDATE: No, wait, not cleared now. The maintenance train got derailed again, this time between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. more ›

It's been a tough morning for WMATA crews working to clear the derailed maintenance vehicle from tracks outside the Courthouse Metro station—the estimates for when this problem is going to be cleared up keep getting pushed back. Here's the story so far, as told through emailed METRO Alerts: more ›

It's been quite a week for the Orange line, with three long delays in three days (not to mention last week's storm-related delays). Monday's derailment of a train between the Rosslyn and Court House stations left people clamoring for a way to get home, but luckily, it wasn't as severe as it could have been. Of course, no one would argue that being stuck in a tunnel for a long time with air conditioning on one of the most oppressively hot days of the year isn't tough, but imagine what could have happened instead. more ›

This just in from Metro: more ›

The Associated Press is reporting that seven cars of a freight train have derailed over the Anacostia River. No injuries have been reported. Six of the seven cars are in the river, and another is hanging off the trestle. Coal and some hydraulic fluid and oil ended up in the river, but the fire department says it's been contained. We'll update again when we learn more. UPDATE 4:45 p.m. Thanks to an anonymous reader... more ›

Commenter Nate asked if we would look into what's been happening on the Red line lately, which he describes as having been suffering from "morning and/or afternoon delays every day for nearly two weeks now." Indeed, we've heard others grumbling about the Red line of late, which is usually one of Metro's speediest rush hour options. WMATA explains that the current Red line delays are due to ongoing work needed to replace pieces of... more ›

The National Transportation Safety Board released its findings this afternoon from an investigation into the January derailment of a Green line train near the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center stop. The accident, in which the fifth car of a six-car train jumped the rails and hit a wall in the tunnel, injured 20 people and left around 60 passengers stranded in the tunnel for nearly 45 minutes. The Associated Press has the first word on the... more ›

NBC4 is reporting that a woman was struck and killed by a Metrobus around 10:30 last night in Mount Pleasant. Officials say an H8 bus was making a left turn onto Park Road from 16th Street when a pedestrian ran in front of the vehicle. A portion of 16th Street was closed for a time, but all lanes have since re-opened. No further information about the victim or the driver involved has been released and... more ›

We know, we know. Bloggers, like all journalists, are supposed to be hyper-skeptical of everything that comes across their monitors, only acquiescing after the most rock solid of facts are in. Well, forgive our optimism and idealism, but whenever we see any forward movement at the statehouse down in Richmond, we can't help but get a little giddy. This week in transit, we look at the motivating forces of partisan democracy in Virginia, the... more ›

Hope you didn't stay up too late debating the President's speech with friends last night, Washington. We stayed up a bit past our bedtimes ourselves, mostly pondering the rhetorical significance of the difference between the phrases "mistakes were made", and "where mistakes have been made". Either way, we take full responsibility for any mistakes that were/have been made in this morning roundup, which was completed with the known unknown of the amount of sleep we... more ›

Okay, okay — we know, this is a Nats town now. But it'd be churlish not to congratulate Cal Ripken Jr. on his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Many Washingtonians regularly made the trek to Camden Yards during his streak, and to them Cal felt as much like a hometown hero as any athlete. So it's good (if unsurprising) to see Ripken receive the nod. And he did it in style: Ripken's name... more ›

Good morning D.C. We hope you enjoy today's slightly more seasonal high of 46 before we return to 70 by the weekend. Channel 9 is also warning that a few (gasp) flurries may make an appearance this evening. Metro Safety Under Scrutiny: Investigators are looking into several aspects of Sunday's Metro train derailment near the Mount Vernon Square station. D.C. Fire officials say they didn't receive information about the accident fast enough, leading to a... more ›

UPDATE: Sam in the comments points out that the WMATA web site has no current service alerts posted, so it appears the Mt. Vernon Square station is now open. Anyone been over there this morning? A few more details are available from the Post this morning about yesterday's Green Line derailment, though it's still not known when the Mt. Vernon Square stop will re-open. In all 20 people were injured, all of them minor except... more ›

The Washington Post reports what some of you who've been out using Metro today may have already heard: six-car train on the Green Line derailed just before 4 p.m. this afternoon near the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center stop, injuring 20 people, one of those seriously. The Associated Press has more, describing the 45-minute wait approximately 60 people had before being reached by fire crews and helped out of the tunnel. This from AP:The accident happened... more ›

Even if today becomes the commuter apocalypse being predicted, at least the heavens won't open up and swallow you whole. After yesterday's violent storms, D.C. can expect a balmy 63 degrees and partly-cloudy skies to ease you into the weekend. So roll up your sleeves and get ready for some fun. Freaky (Freight) Friday: Are you one of the thousands of people are stranded this morning due to the Thursday night derailment of a freight... more ›

New Train Fears Unwarranted, Says Schwartz: Despite new fears of disaster following the train derailment and subsequent chlorine spill in South Carolina, D.C. Councilmember Carol Schwartz (at right) says that there should be no concern of a repeat on rail lines running through the District. As the Post reports, Schwartz released information from a confidential meeting with the Homeland Security Department saying that such hazardous shipments have been rerouted around the city since the Madrid... more ›

Amtrak might seem dangerous to anyone who's stood on the edge of a platform and watched the Acela Express whoosh by at 135 miles per hour, but unless your idea of a good time is playing stickball in the rail yard, DCist thinks your chances are pretty good. (Fun fact: According to Amtrak corporate, "Acela" is a combination of the words "acceleration" and excellence.") For example, a 2002 derailment in Florida killed just four... more ›

Stadium Opponents Fill Council Chambers: A public hearing on the District's baseball stadium plan was contentious as opponents, who held a rally outside prior to the D.C. City Council's meeting on the matter, packed the Wilson Building chamber. Police removed a few vocal opponents who interrupted the proceedings. Mayor Anthony Williams, who didn't testify, said bluntly that the plan would go through. From the Post: "It's going to happen," Williams said, although the project requires... more ›

WMATA is advising commuters that trips on the Red Line, especially between downtown and Glenmont, could be slow-going this afternoon as a train car about to head downtown derailed on a service track adjacent to the Silver Spring station. There weren't any customers on board at the time and the driver was not hurt. The track in question is used by Red Line trains to turn around after completing runs to the Silver Spring terminal... more ›