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VRE Delays - Fire on tracks; Union Station track issue; & sun kink


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 May 2016 - 04:45 PM

VRE service alerts:

 

3:10 pm
 

Delays Out of DC

 

All trains are currently holding out of Union Station due to fire on tracks south of L'Enfant.  Firefighter's are currently on scene with CSX maintainers.  More information to follow.

 

 

3:58 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update

 

Update:

Firefighters are still trying to resolve issue and no estimate when rails will be open again.

Due to the expected extended delays, the Metro option is open which mean VRE customers can use Metrorail at no additional charge by presenting their validated VRE ticket or pass to a Metro station manager upon entering and exiting the system. Metro parking charges, however, are not waived.

 

 

4:01 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #2

 

Update #2:

No new information, still waiting for tracks to open up. Will notify riders when trains are moving again.

 

4:06 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #3

 

Update #3:

Tracks have been inspected and railroad is back open to traffic. Trains should be on the move shortly. There will be residual delays to later trains.

 

 

4:24 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #4 - New Track issues at DC Union Station

 

Update #4:

There will be more delays coming out of Union Station due to track issues there. At this time our trains cannot depart the yard to get to Union Station.

 

A Fredericksburg train can proceed south since it is at Union Station. Then we have Manassas equipment moving north to get to L'Enfant which will then turn south and pickup Manassas passengers.

 

 

4:48 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #5 - New Track Issue South of L'Enfant

 

Update #5:

There is a sun kink in the rail south of L'Enfant which will further delay the trains. A Fredericksburg train is at L'Enfant now but will be delayed going south from there.

 

 

4:56 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #6

 

Update #6:

Because of the sun kink south of L'Enfant, we will not be able to get the Manassas train north to L'Enfant. That Manassas equipment is at Crystal City will pick up passengers once safe to do so then proceed south.

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 May 2016 - 04:47 PM

5:44 pm

Delays Out of DC: Update #7

 

Update #7:

Trains are moving south but severely delayed to the all the issues today. There are track issues at Union Station and south of L'Enfant.

 

All passengers at L'Enfant will board at the far track. Please wait at the north end of the platform, then wait for the conductors' instructions to board.

 

 



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 May 2016 - 04:52 PM

WRC-TV, Washington. DC 5/27:
 

Fire on DC Train Tracks Stalls CSX, Amtrak and VRE Service

 

A fire on a train tracks south of L'Enfant Plaza has stalled CSX, Amtrak and VRE service Friday afternoon as thousands of people are traveling for the Memorial Day weekend, D.C. Fire and EMS officials say.

 

Fire officials said the fire started about 1:30 p.m. and crews used fireboats on the Potomac to put out the flames.

 

Continue here w/photo and video links.



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 May 2016 - 08:18 PM

Update #12  8:16 pm:

Fredericksburg train en route to Crystal City. Manassas train en route to L'Enfant.

 

 

Update #11  7:37 pm:

Train still slowly departing Union Station due to track issues. There is currently a Manassas train at Union Station loading passengers.

 

 

Update #10  6:49pm:

Track issues at Union Station are still delaying the last few departures. There is currently a Fredericksburg train at Union Station loading passengers.

 

 

Update #9  6:24 pm:

A Manassas train is currently loading at L'Enfant.

 

 

Update #8  6:14 pm:

Trains are single tracking between Crystal City and L'Enfant and currently trains are moving north. Once that clears, trains will proceed south out of Union Station.

 



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 01 June 2016 - 03:00 PM

VRE Train Talk Alert, 6/1:

Friday Night's Delays

 

We would like to apologize for the service disruptions during our afternoon and evening service on Friday.  They were a result of three separate, but compounding incidents that occurred in the District.

The first incident was a fire on the Long Bridge, south of the L’Enfant station, which required a temporary shutdown of the railroad to allow fire and safety responders access to the scene. 

 

After that incident was cleared and the first afternoon trains were released from Union Station, a heat kink was found on Track 3 just south of the L’Enfant station.  This required Amtrak 91 and VRE 303 (Departs Union Station at 3:10 PM) to make a reverse move and switch to Track 2 in order to continue south to Crystal City.

 

At about the same time, one of the overhead catenary wires that provide power to Amtrak’s electric locomotives fell and was blocking access from the maintenance and storage yards to the station platforms. 

 

We opened the Metro giving passengers the opportunity to get to Alexandria, where they could catch southbound VRE or Amtrak trains south of L’Enfant.

 

We turned our reverse flow train 336 (Departs Broad Run at 2:45 pm), and our deadhead train (stored at Broad Run during the midday and returns to Union Station for the PM service) to head south from Crystal City,  providing southbound alternatives for the Manassas line passengers.

 

There were, of course, residual delays the rest of the evening even after the incidents had all cleared.

 

As with all incidents of this magnitude we will debrief with our partners at CSX, Amtrak and Keolis to discuss all of the events and extract “lessons learned” from what was a very challenging service day.  We sincerely apologize for the delays and appreciate everyone’s patience.

 






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