Metro says it has lifted most of the speed restrictions that were put in place on the Red Line between Friendship Heights and Bethesda late last week. Inbound Red Line trains traveling in the direction of Glenmont are now back at normal speeds, up to 59 mph. Outbound trains traveling in the direction of Shady Grove, meanwhile, are operating at 35 to 40 mph between Friendship Heights and Bethesda. WMATA says it hopes to have…

A temporary 15 mph speed restriction is in place on the Red Line between Friendship Heights and Bethesda, WMATA has announced. The change is due to ongoing rail replacement work along that section of the tracks. The restriction has actually been in place since late last week, according to Metro, and the transit authority hopes to be able to lift them by the middle of this week. Previously scheduled weeknight and weekend track work between…

Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie The standard spiel from WMATA for the past eight months has been that the switch to manual operation after the June 22 Red Line crash has been the source of nearly all rider woes since then. Jerky stops and starts? It’s the manual operation. Longer headways between trains? Related to manual operation. Overcrowded train cars when they do come? Metro is just less efficient in manual operation….