Tyrone Turner / DCist

The 7000-series trains will again be completely removed from service after the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) found Metro ran railcars that didn’t meet the required criteria.

The commission says it observed Metro return at least five railcars to service “that do not meet the inspection criteria” specified in the agreed-upon plan. Five railcars out of 40 did not meet the criteria. In a statement, the WMSC says Metro committed to removing all the 7000-series trains from service.

Metro has said it will test the trains’ wheels every night to ensure they don’t move too far apart; shifting wheels could cause a derailment. It’s unclear which part of Metro’s plan maintenance workers did not follow.

The safety commission says Metro can return the trains after it provides a more specific plan that includes “additional protections and internal oversight Metrorail will carry out to ensure that any asset that fails a safety-critical inspection… is removed from and kept out of passenger service.”

The WMSC says Metro shouldn’t allow “alternative procedures or practices” outside the agreed-upon plan.

After Metro comes up with the revised plan, the WMSC will have a 14-day review period to see if there are any objections. Then, maybe, again, the trains can return to service.

This has been a three-month saga. Read our past coverage below.

The 7000-Series Trains Sidelined

Dec. 23: Metro Pauses Return Of 7000-Series Trains Out Of ‘Abundance Of Caution’

Dec. 17: Some 7000-Series Trains Are Back In Service Two Months After They Were Sidelined For Wheel Issues

Dec. 14: Metro Safety Commission Approves Plan For Return Of 7000-Series Trains

Dec. 9: Senate Committee Wants Records From Metro On 7000-Series Train Wheel Issues

Dec. 9: Metro Says 7000-Series Trains Will Return Gradually, But Unclear Exactly When

Nov 22: Metro Service Will Continue To Be Reduced Until End Of Year

Nov. 16: Metro Invited Media To See How It Inspects 7000-Series Train Wheels. Here’s What We Learned

Nov. 4: Metrorail Safety Commission Approves Metro’s Testing Plan, First Step To Getting 7000-Series Trains Back On Tracks

Nov. 1: Metro Adds Older Trains To Improve Green, Silver Line Service During Delays

Oct. 28: Metro Delays Will Continue Through At Least Mid-November

Oct. 25: Metro Works To Bring Back More Trains As Slow Service Continues This Week

Oct. 25: D.C. Offers All Residents Free Month Of Bikeshare To Ease Metro Disruptions

Oct. 22: Limited Metrorail Service Will Continue Throughout October, No Timeline For 7000-Series Return

Oct. 21: With No Timeline On Return Of 7000-Series Trains, Some Are Calling For Increased Bus Service And Dedicated Lanes

Oct. 20: Metro Gave Riders On Derailed Train A $21 SmarTrip Credit As Compensation

Oct. 18: Metro 7000-Series Safety Problems Could Have Led To ‘Catastrophic Event,’ Service Limited

Oct. 17: Safety Commission Orders WMATA To Pull 60% Of Its Train Fleet, Severely Reducing Service

Oct. 12: National Transportation Safety Board Investigating Blue Line Train Derailment