Photo by Adam Fagen.

Photo by Adam Fagen.

Update: Metro has apologized for this morning’s incident. Read the full statement below:

Metro apologizes for the significant delays, crowding and inconvenience many of you experienced this morning. Shortly before 8 a.m., Metro’s Operations Control Center received a report of smoke in the tunnel between Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom stations. For your safety, both tracks were taken out of service while appropriate fire department personnel, along with Metro response crews, investigated and rectified the issue.

Please know that the actions taken this morning were with your safety as our highest priority. Despite the fact that there there was no significant smoke in any station, Blue, Orange and Silver line service was suspended between Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom out of caution, resulting in significant delays in service on all three lines.

We established limited shuttle bus service as an alternative, and ran a shuttle train between Rosslyn and Pentagon, enabling some riders to switch to the Yellow Line. Despite these alternatives, we know that many of you experienced extremely long, crowded trips this morning.

Single-track rail service was restored shortly after 11 a.m. on a single track following the replacement of multiple third-rail insulators that were showing signs of electrical sparking (known as “arcing”). Additional repairs required that parts be brought to the location from Maryland, further contributing to the length of our response. We expect to have these repairs completed by mid-afternoon, with normal two-track service in time for this evening’s rush hour.

Again, we sincerely apologize for your experience this morning. Should you wish to share feedback with us, please contact Metro Customer Service at (202) 637-1328 or online at wmata.com/contactus.

Original post:

Metro has restored rail service, albeit single-tracking, to the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines after an “arcing event” near the Foggy Bottom station this morning caused heavy smoke.

At about 8:15 a.m. this morning, Arlington County Fire officials were called to the Rosslyn station for reports of smoke pouring into the station. The cause of the smoke was an arcing insulator at the Foggy Bottom station, The Post reports. A request for comment and more information from Metro officials has not yet been returned.

The arcing event suspended service for several hours on Metro’s Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, leaving thousands of riders stranded, either waiting in long lines for a shuttle bus, or paying an absurd amount of money for an Uber because of surge pricing.

In January, an arcing insulator is what caused the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station to fill up with smoke while two trains were left stranded. The incident caused the death of one person, leading to a thorough investigation and audit of Metro’s safety protocols and procedures.

Those riding the Blue, Orange, or Silver Lines this afternoon should expect residual delays, Metro says.

Filed Under: metro, metro delays, metro smoke,