Results tagged “redline”

Four and half months after the fatal June 22 Red Line crash and much to the relief of frustrated commuters, Metro announced today that Red Line service near the Fort Totten station has returned to normal. From the press release:

Red Line trains are no longer traveling at reduced speeds or taking turns moving one at a time between the Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations. Maintenance program repairs in the Fort Totten Metrorail station area have been implemented, including replacing original track equipment dating back to the 1970s.

Continue reading "WMATA: Red Line Service is Back to Normal "

Reports of smoke on the tracks at Metro Center starting at about 9:20 a.m. caused major delays on the Red Line this morning, with trains sharing the same track between Judiciary Square and Farragut North. WMATA says the situation had been resolved by about 9:40 a.m., but delays persist in both directions on the Red Line. UPDATE 11:09 a.m.: Metro says the cause of the smoke at Metro Center this morning was a fire that broke out after one of the train's collector shoes, which are attached to the third rail, fell off. WMATA is investigating what could have caused such a piece of equipment to disconnect from the train. Each train has four collector shoes.

The Metro Transit Police Department has identified the man who was fatally struck by a Red Line train on Sunday morning as Joshua Fueston, 19, of Bellingham, WA. A preliminary investigation indicated Fueston placed himself in the path of the train just before 8 a.m., but Metro Transit Police continues to investigate. The aftermath of the incident caused major delays on the Red Line until just after 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Red Line service has been temporarily suspended between the Van Ness-UDC and Dupont Circle stations from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Metro announced the closure less than an hour ago, explaining that it was necessary while they secure a loose communications cable hanging from the tunnel ceiling between the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle stations. Free shuttle buses are operating between Van Ness-UDC and Dupont Circle during this time. The loose cable was discovered during rush hour this morning, and Metro says Red Line trains have been at reduced speeds in the area since then.

1. There's a cracked rail on the Red Line, between Friendship Heights and Bethesda, because Red Line riders don't already have enough to deal with. Trains are single-tracking this afternoon between Grosvenor and Friendship Heights while temporary repairs are made, causing 15 minute delays. A more permanent rail replacement will be performed tonight after Metro closes.
2. A subcontractor who was installing wiring for a new air compressor at Metro’s Bladensburg Bus Garage in Northeast died earlier today after apparently being electrocuted.
3. DC Fire/EMS were called to a fire on the tracks at the Deanwood station earlier today. The small fire was quickly put out by a Metro maintenance crew.

Metro has announced that it will begin work to replace the track circuits at the site of the June 22 Red Line crash starting tonight, with work continuing throughout August. These are the same track circuits that the NTSB has connected to the cause of the accident, though an official cause has yet to be determined. Late night Red Line riders will be forced to contend with numerous schedule changes and station closings as a result of this work.

One press release we got from WMATA today that wasn't dated 2003 was the announcement that the Takoma Metro station will be open all day, from 5 a.m. to midnight, on both Thursday and Friday. There will, however, still be fewer and slower-moving trains on the Red Line for the next two days. Metro stopped short of promising that the end of the Red Line related to the ongoing NTSB investigation is nearly here, noting that it's still "unclear what the NTSB’s needs may be after Friday." So expect another update before the weekend starts.

Red Line delays related to the ongoing NTSB investigation will continue through at least Thursday morning's rush hour, Metro announced on Sunday night. The last time WMATA gave us an estimate for how much longer delays affecting the Red Line due to the June 22 crash would go on, they offered July 19 as the best case scenario, but it seems that was overly optimistic. Metro's announcement also makes it plain that they can't be sure that Thursday will be the end of it: "At this point, it is unclear what the NTSB's needs may be after Thursday morning’s rush hour and the impact on Metrorail service. In the meantime, passengers can expect that their trips may take an additional 30 minutes or possibly more to complete, and they should build that added time into their plans." The delays are caused by trains being forced to move one at a time at a reduced speed between Takoma and Fort Totten, while investigators continue their work at the crash site.

An unidentified passenger accidentally fell onto the tracks at Takoma Metro station just before 10 a.m. this morning, Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel said. According to Metro, the passenger got up off the tracks and walked away, and did not receive medical attention as far as WMATA knows. WJLA has been reporting that the incident caused the station to close 15 minutes earlier than had been originally planned, but Taubenkibel says the fall happened at 9:57 a.m., making the scenario WJLA is reporting impossible. Metro says the station closed at 10 a.m., as planned.

Metro will close the Takoma Metro station today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of the ongoing NTSB investigation. From WMATA: "While the Takoma Metrorail station is closed, the Red Line will be divided into two segments, with trains running between the Glenmont and Silver Spring Metrorail stations, and between the Fort Totten and Shady Grove Metrorail stations. Shuttle buses will take riders around the accident investigation work, and make stops at the Fort Totten, Takoma and Silver Spring Metrorail stations."

The Takoma Metro station will stay open all night, through 3 a.m. tonight, WMATA has announced, offering a brief reprieve from the ongoing 10 p.m. closures due to the investigation into the Red Line crash. No need to disembark from Red Line trains and avail yourselves of shuttle buses tonight, as the NTSB is taking a night off. The 10 p.m. closures will return again on Saturday night.

A lot of you have been asking us when the Red Line will start running its normal number of trains and at regular speeds during rush hour, and today Metro offered an answer of sorts: it's going to be another 10 days, at a minimum. WMATA says Red Line riders should expect the same packed trains through July 19, thanks to ongoing reduced rush hour service during the NTSB investigation of the June 22 crash. Between now and July 19, Red Line trains will continue to move one at a time at a reduced speed between Takoma and Fort Totten, which is the source of most of the current Red Line troubles -- fewer trains can move along the line due to the change, and trains can more easily become backed up. The Takoma station will also continue to close at 10 p.m. for at least the next 10 nights as investigators continue their work. There's no guarantee in this Metro announcement that July 19 will be the last of it, either. Merely, word is that July 19 is the best case scenario.

Red Line trains returned to full speed this morning for the first time since last week's fatal crash. With the exception of when trains are passing through the crash site, between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations, The Post reports that Red Line trains can now go as fast as 59 mph, after having been kept at 35 mph for the last week. Metrorail and Metrobus are operating on a modified Saturday schedule today.

A man was struck and killed by a Red Line train at the Forest Glen station at just after 4:15 p.m. today. The man was struck by an eight-car train heading in the direction of Shady Grove. Preliminary reports indicate that the individual intentionally put himself on the track. Trains are currently single tracking between Forest Glen and Silver Spring. Given this incident's timing with the rush hour and the continued slowdown on the Red Line in the wake of last week's deadly crash, customers are being told to expect lengthy delays. That seems like an understatement.

From Metro: "A second cracked rail was discovered at 1:50 p.m., outside the Medical Center Metrorail station on the Red Line in the direction of Glenmont. While Metro crews make repairs, Red Line trains will share one track between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Friendship Heights Metrorail station. Riders may experience delays up to 30 minutes. Shuttle bus service will be established between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations." Given that the Red Line is already sharing the same track between Fort Totten and Takoma on the other arm of the line, looks like no joy this evening once again for Red Line commuters.

Good morning, Washington. The city is reeling from yesterday's horrific Metro crash at Fort Totten. Nine people had been reported to have died in the collision, but Mayor Adrian Fenty only confirmed seven people dead this morning, and news outlets have since begun reporting the smaller number. Not much other new information was available from this morning's press conference. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier did say that the city has not yet begun to notify the next of kin of those who died, as they are still determining identities in some cases. The only victim who has been identified so far is Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, the Metrorail operator who died in the crash.

UPDATE: City officials are sticking to seven confirmed dead, despite earlier news reports that nine people died. The two additional reported deaths may or may not have been due to confusion about the two critical patients -- we'll continue to monitor reports.

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.

We're hearing from a lot of people who had lengthy Red Line delays on their way in to work this morning, with anecdotal reports of sitting still for up to 35 minutes underground before getting going again. Metro says the delays are due to a track circuit malfunction outside the Dupont Circle station, which forced trains to single-track between Dupont Circle and Van Ness. The malfunction was, according to Metro, already resolved by about 8:30 a.m., but delays have been ongoing since then.

There's a Metro alert right now warning commuters that Red Line trains are sharing the same track between Shady Grove and Twinbrook due to a train experiencing mechanical difficulties outside the Rockville station. Lena Sun has more details: "... a fire reported under the last car of a Glenmont-bound train. The fire was reported about 4 p.m. and the train was pulled into the Rockville station about 4:30 p.m." Adjust your plans accordingly.

It wouldn't be a Friday evening if there wasn't something a little bit messed up on the Red Line. Red Line trains are sharing the same track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights due to a train experiencing mechanical difficulties. Look out for some minor delays in both directions that will last through the evening rush. UPDATE 5:42 p.m. Scratch that "minor," folks. WTOP is reporting that two trains actually derailed near the Bethesda station. This DCist editor was stuck on a Glenmont-bound train at the Tenleytown station for about 10 minutes right after this happened, but we eventually got moving. Looks like things got worse since then.

Metro says a six-car train coming into the Bethesda station experienced a brake problem. Spokeswoman Taryn McNeil says another train, with no riders, arrived to pull the first train along.

Continue reading "Expect Red Line Delays Due to Double Derailment"

WMATA reported delays on the Red line earlier this morning due to a disruption at the Bethesda station. Metro station announcements said there had been a track malfunction, and that trains were single tracking between Friendship Heights and Medical Center. WAMU and WTOP are both reporting that smoke at the Bethesda station is the cause of the trouble—debris on the tracks was the apparent source of the smoke. Montgomery County officials told WTOP that commuters can exit trains at Bethesda, but no one can board trains there. Expect delays in both directions. Photo by staceyviera

WMATA has sent around word of delays of up to a half hour on the Red Line throughout the evening due to a cracked rail that was discovered on the outbound track approaching the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan station. Trains are sharing one track between Woodley Park and Van Ness-UDC, with delays in both directions. The cracked rail was discovered just after 4 p.m. Delays are expected to last through 7 p.m. Metro is recommending looking for an L2 Metrobus. DCist is recommending going to straight to happy hour and not boarding a Red line train until well after 7, and well after several cocktails.

UPDATE: WTOP is now reporting that the man died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Witnesses at the station are saying he intentionally jumped in front of the train.

WMATA is reporting major delays in both directions on the Red line due to a fire on the tracks at Cleveland Park at just after 7:30 p.m. The D.C. Fire department responded to the scene, which was also causing a road traffic backup on Connecticut Ave. due to the fire trucks parked next to the station. Trains are currently sharing the same track from Dupont Circle to Van Ness-UDC. Bottom line: for the time being, avoid heading up the Red line if at all possible, and if you're driving, don't take Connecticut. If you're already up there, we'd suggest looking for an L line bus or a cab before opting to wait it out in Metro.

Someone fell on the tracks at the Friendship Heights Metro station at around noon. Various reports indicate that the person was struck by the train and that they are unconscious, but so far no more details are available about their condition. You should expect major delays in both directions on the Red line due to this incident, which is being compounded by an earlier switch malfunction outside of Rhode Island Avenue. that's been fixed, but created residual delays also. Check back for updates. 1:55 p.m.: Both Friendship Heights and Rhode Island Ave. Metro stations have been cleared and normal Red line service has resumed. The Examiner reports that the man who fell on the tracks is now conscious.

Metro says riders should expect delays on the Red line tonight in the direction of Shady Grove due to an earlier train malfunction at Forest Glen that has been resolved. No word on what kind of delays we're talking about here, but if you were counting on the Red line to be a snap during rush hour, don't be surprised if it's a bit off the normal schedule.

AlertDC sent around word just after 11 a.m. that a track circuit malfunction outside the Takoma Metro station is creating long term delays on the Red line in both directions. Trains are sharing the same track between Ft. Totten and Silver Spring. The estimated repair time is 2 hours. This Red line delay comes on the heels of an Examiner story this morning predicting serious evening and weekend delays on the Red line for at least four years beginning next spring thanks to a plan to begin work replacing the line's aging infrastructure.

If you're heading out of the office to hop on the Green line at this very moment, may we suggest a bus? An unidentified man was struck by a train at 4:40 p.m. at the Fort Totten station and Metro put out the word to expect major delays. From WMATA: (Green line) trains are single-tracking through the area, taking turns headed in both directions between West Hyattsville and Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail stations. Shuttle buses have...

Ever work at a store with an intercom system? "Cleanup on aisle four." There's always the temptation to say something funny into it, to make a weird noise or cough or confuse the customers. And there's the amusement that happens when somebody new uses it. "Uhh... (click, buzz) is this... hey boss, uh, come here." The Metro intercoms seem to be mostly used for incoherent announcements about "trains... and stations" and things of that nature,...