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.
The Farragut North Metro station has been closed. Metrorail will be single-tracking through the area for the time being.
11:20 a.m. Metro spokesperson Lisa Farbstein just told the WRC/NBC4 news team that the train was actually on the pocket track when it derailed.
About 150 people are believed to be on the train, and they have yet to be evacuated from the station. WMATA is attempting to move another nearby train close in to the derailed one so that the passengers can be offloaded and moved. D.C. Fire/EMS crews are on the scene.
Roads around 17th and K are jammed, so avoid the area.
11:38 a.m. It looks like passengers have been offloaded from the train and are emerging from the station. They were stuck down there on the train for about 90 minutes.
Here’s how they’re saying the passengers were finally offloaded: “All customers were moved to the rear four cars of the train. Those four cars then were separated from the front two cars to allow the four car train to move to the platform to unload the passengers.” It was the lead car of a six-car train that derailed.
We expect major delays to continue on the Red Line for most of the afternoon. Shuttle buses are moving between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place.
We’re now hearing there were upwards of 300 people on the train.
12:19 p.m.The Farragut North station has reopened. Trains will be moving at reduced speeds through the station for the time being.
Final word is that there were 345 passengers on board, and three sustained minor injuries, just bumps and bruises.
Metro says it has notified the Tri-State Oversight Committee and the National Transportation Safety Board.