Results tagged “train”

A man was struck by a Yellow Line train at the Columbia Heights station at around 2 p.m. this afternoon, Metro officials have confirmed. Preliminary reports indicate this appears to be another suicide attempt, making this the ninth such attempt this year on the D.C. Metro system. Trains are currently stopped while rescue workers attempt to reach the man, who is under the train. More soon. UPDATE 2:27: Reader Matthew writes in to say that while traveling between Fort Totten and U Street stations just after the incident, a crowd of people got on at Columbia Heights and some of them said that they had witnessed a man jump in front of the Yellow Line train. D.C. Fire/EMS confirms rescue and treatment attempts are still ongoing, so no word yet on the man's condition. 2:39 p.m.The Columbia Heights station is now closed, according to Metro. Green Line trains are single-tracking between Georgia Ave. and U St./Cardozo, but for now they are not stopping at Columbia Heights. 3 p.m. Columbia Heights station has reopened, but trains continue to share the same track. 3:10 p.m.D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer said the person struck was a teenage male. He was removed from under the train by firefighters, treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital with serious and life threatening injuries. 3:40 p.m. Metro is saying the teen was "fatally struck," which is the first we've heard that he died from his injuries. Columbia Heights station is now open, but Green Line trains are single tracking between Georgia Ave-Petworth and Shaw.

The worst year ever for Metro just keeps getting worse. WMATA just issued an alert that a person may have been struck by a train at the Van Ness station on the Red line. Trains are single tracking between Cleveland Park and Friendship Heights until further notice. Plan your commutes accordingly via bus or an extra long happy hour tonight. There's no information yet about the condition of the person who may have fallen on the tracks. UPDATE: Not that this should be a surprise to anyone, but AlertDC is warning us that there are also major delays on Connecticut Avenue NW due to the situation.

Amtrak and MARC Penn Line service has been suspended between Baltimore and D.C. since 7:45 a.m., thanks to a major water main break affecting tracks between the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Baltimore Penn stations. Amtrak reports that tracks in the area are covered with mud, trees and other debris. Service restoration is not expected until at least noon today, and could be hours later. There's literally no alternative rail service between the two cities, so if you had plans to travel north from D.C. via train this morning, you ought to look into a bus. You can call 800-USA-RAIL for train status updates later in the day.

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.

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrived at Washington's Union Station and emerged from the "Obama Express" at just after 6:40 p.m. this evening. The "whistle stop tour" began earlier today in Philadelphia, then stopped in Biden's home of Wilmington, Delaware, and also in Baltimore for a public event at the War Memorial Plaza.

Vice President-Elect Joe Biden is a well-known train geek, so we have to assume he was involved in the decision for him and President-Elect Barack Obama to arrive in Washington on Jan. 17 via Amtrak. Sure, the Lincoln-loving Obama says he's replicating his presidential hero's journey to Washington by starting out in Philadelphia and stopping in Baltimore on his way, but Biden made the fact that he rides the train between D.C. and Wilmington almost every day one of his talking points during the campaign, so the symbolism works for both of them rather nicely.

Breaking from WMATA: Someone's been struck by a train at Suitland Metro station. The reports we're getting is that the unidentified individual went completely under the train, and that the odds they are still alive are slim. The station is temporarily closed and trains are turning back at Naylor Road station. There is currently no train service between Naylor Road and Branch Avenue, and the Green line is going to be seriously delayed in both directions for at least the next several hours, if not longer. MORE: Metro says investigators have told them it looks like a suicide attempt, that the person was on the tracks intentionally. UPDATE 1:13 p.m. Suitland Metro has reopened. Trains are sharing one track between Naylor Road and Branch Avenue, so continue to expect Green line delays.

As of 5:04 p.m. this evening, Metro is all clear.

   

This just in from Metro:

I complained to Metro once when my train was offloaded at Arlington Cemetery (back a few months ago when there were all those rail fires) and we were all left to find our ways home from a station with no buses or taxis -- when they could have easily offloaded us at Rosslyn instead. They sent me a free ride ticket for my troubles. It's a little piece of paper -- not a farecard. To use it, you have to show it to the station manager when you enter, so he/she can open the gate for you. Then when you get to your destination, you have to get the station manager to let you out. So far I haven't found myself with an extra 10 minutes in the morning to deal with this "gift." Leave it to Metro to make a free ride much more complicated than it needs to be -- ever heard of a $1.35 farecard, Metro?

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...

Last night, Fox 5 reported on an alarming attack of a gay man by six or seven men on the Metro. "Nathaniel," as he's referred to in the report, was riding alone on a train Friday night. As the doors closed at Metro Center, the group surrounded and beat Nathaniel, kicking him as he fell to the floor and yelling "faggot". Nathaniel managed to get off the train at the Smithsonian station, and he ran...

Mid-December has arrived, and with that comes the inevitable flood of best-of lists. The Washington Area Film Critics' Association has, for the previous five years of its existence, been in the habit of trying to get their own list out ahead of most of the other critics' societies. We can't really blame them. Considering the fact that none of the critics from the city's biggest newspaper are members, not to mention the fact that the...

The cold weather - and holiday festivities - descended upon Gothamist. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, Broadway stagehand finally ended their strike, and NASCAR decided to run their victory lap through Times Square. There were disturbing photographs revealing the working conditions in which many city manholes are produced and ninjas were also a hot topic, either robbing homes or entering into alibis. But the city was really rocked by how Rudy Giuliani's visits...

WJLA/ABC7 is reporting on the story of an assault on Metro's Green line over the weekend that's both upsetting and frustrating. The victim reportedly received no assistance from station managers when she attempted to report the incident. The victim, a woman, was assaulted by a man who began pushing his body against hers just after she boarded the train car. When she protested and tried to move away from the alleged assailant, he grabbed her...

Word of mouth is considered an important marketing tool these days; call it what you will, but it's still a great way to hear about new music, movies, TV, whatever. Usually the best way to find the good stuff is to talk to somebody whose opinions you respect, but sometimes just random folks can tell you about neat new stuff — some person at a party, a friend of a friend, or whoever. And sometimes...

Good morning, Washington. Yesterday afternoon Roll Call had the story of a potential suspect finally being identified in all those strange Senate bathroom fires from the last few months. Capitol Police Officer Karen Emory recently has been suspended in connection with the fires, although it still hasn't been confirmed whether she is definitely a suspect in the case. No charges have been filed, but color us a little disappointed if it turns out a...

Good morning, Washington, and welcome back to what will be a rather short work week for most of us. While airports and train stations are sure to be jammed with holiday travelers this week, the city's roads and metro system should be a little less crowded than normal as folks head out of town early to celebrate Thanksgiving. Less congestion may not make much of a difference in road safety, however, if a new survey...

Good morning, D.C. The federal government is observing Veteran's Day today, which means Washington is much quieter than normal this morning. The chilly, wet weather certainly isn't helping make the work day, for those of us who are at our desks, any more inviting. Keep in mind that post offices, banks, schools and local government offices are closed for the day as well. Coal Train Clean-up Continues: Workers are still out cleaning up the site...

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...

Londonist got the big scoop of the week with what may be the first images of notorious street artist Banksy in action. They also got on a runaway train without an operator provoking a response from the transport authorities. Elsewhere, London's answer to Central Station is about to open for business, and Londonist got a sneak preview. Meanwhile, spooky goings-on beneath London Bridge, where a cache of skeletons provided an apt story for Hallowe'en....

Moms are great. Aside from birthing us, they wipe our mouths when we dribble food, wrap us up warm when it gets cold out, and give us Jell-O and ice cream when we're sick. For many years it seemed like mom and dad were the smartest people in the world, an Encyclopedia Familica. Usually they give us advice like cover your mouth when you cough, wash your hands after using the bathroom and useful stuff...

It goes without saying that Stevie Wonder is a living legend. The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has been performing for well over 40 years and is responsible for a slew of well-known hits. As one concert-goer stated to me on my train ride home, the near capacity crowd at Verizon Center would’ve been there for a couple of days if he’d decided to play everything in his discography. Instead, he covered approximately 27 songs over the course of...

Editors Note: We enjoyed the tour diaries J. Tom Hnatow wrote for us as part of These United States' last tour, so we asked him if he wouldn't mind doing it again as the band embark on their first ever intercontinental tour of the UK and Europe. He graciously agreed. This is the third installment of an ongoing series. Tuesday, October 23, 2007 A leisurely breakfast, then off to Bath. Bath is stunningly beautiful. And...

Written by DCist contributor Meghan Welsh Though professional dancers train for years to achieve perfect technique, there is one rule that trumps everything else when it comes to performing: make it look effortless. CityDance Ensemble’s performance of “Eclipse” on Sunday evening at the Music Center at Strathmore more than accomplished this feat. The concert was part of the D.C.-based contemporary repertory dance company’s “In the Studio” concert series, which transforms a dance studio into a...

Welcome to Friday, Washington. More reactions to the Metro Board's proposed fare hikes this morning, as The Examiner quotes the chairman of Metro's Riders Advisory Board claiming he'll be switching to driving from Rockville to Rosslyn at least two days a week if the increases go into effect. Do the proposed fare hikes make you think you'll change your commuting habits? Operator Error Blamed in Track Deaths: Another report about a terrible Metro accident from...

Editors Note: We enjoyed the tour diaries J. Tom Hnatow wrote for us as part of These United States' last tour, so we asked him if he wouldn't mind doing it again as the band embark on their first ever intercontinental tour of the UK and Europe. He graciously agreed. Look for his dispatches from the road abroad over the next few weeks. Tuesday, October 16, 2007 We walk (and walk and walk) from Baker...

>> Ocean City: Making it harder to score hookers on your beach weekend since 2007. [WTOP] >> Metro is going to start distributing free bottles of hand sanitizer in stations beginning next week, in an effort to prevent the spread of flu germs. Except only 2,000 riders at each station will get them, on a first come, first served basis. We'd like to suggest they distribute them based on filthiness. You should have to...

Some people love kids. Some people feel differently. Kids provide unconditional love, but they can also make any flight or train ride interminable. They have great imaginations and can be funny and sweet, but they can also ask the same question 80 times, just because they want to. But whether you're a kid person or not, it's hard to argue with their ability to say complete nonsense. Maybe the non sequiturs match up with whatever...

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...