The inspection into 2000 and 3000 series trains has revealed issues with the tightness of brake bolts.

Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

Metro has restored service on the portion of the Blue and Yellow lines impacted by a rail car derailment last week, as teams continue to inspect 2000- and 3000-series trains. So far, dozens of trains in the fleet have been found to have loose bolts in the brake unit, which could eventually cause the units to come loose and fall off.

The derailment of a 7000-series train, which occurred on Friday morning, did not result in injuries or major damage. Metro’s probe into the derailment determined that it wasn’t caused by a problem with a 7000-series train (welcome news, after the last 7000-series derailment revealed wheel problems with the models that ended up sidelining 60% of Metro’s total fleet, and took more than 1.5 years to fully resolve).

Instead, it appeared that a part of a brake unit from a 3000-series train had fallen onto the track, causing the 7000-series train to derail when it encountered the object. WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke immediately pulled all 3000- and 2000-series rail cars from operation on Friday — 352 cars — and ordered an inspection of the brake units.

According to Metro’s latest update on Monday night, crews had inspected 80% of the 2000- and 3000-series fleet — or 284 of 352 cars — and identified 60 cars with at least one loose bolt in the brake unit. According to Shushil Ramnaress, Metro’s Chief Mechanical Officer, a loose bolt in the brake unit can cause the brake rotor to fall off the train.

As crews inspect the cars, service reductions and slight delays will persist through at least Tuesday.

Blue and Yellow lines single tracked through the weekend as Metro crews repaired the track between the National Airport and Potomac Yard after the derailment. The agency restored full service to that area on Monday night, but the ongoing investigation continues to sideline part of the fleet. A WMATA spokesperson did not have an estimated date by which the current inspection will be complete, or when the train cars will be back in service.

The 2000- and 3000-series trains, built in 1982 and 1987 respectively, are expected to be retired over the coming years as the new 8000-series trains come online.

A spokesperson for the Washington Metro Safety Commission, which oversees and enforces Metro safety protocols, said the commission is monitoring the results of Metro’s car inspections.

“The WMSC continues to gather and review additional information and analysis that may be relevant to identify opportunities for Metrorail to mitigate the risk of a similar event occurring in the future,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.

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