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VRE Severe disruption due track fire - 10/20/17


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 October 2017 - 08:10 PM

VRE Train Talk Alerts 10/20/17:

 

5:05 pm
 

Delayed VRE trains

 

Fredericksburg Line train 309 (309 departs Union Station 4:40p) is currently holding at L'Enfant due to a report of fire on tracks south of L'Enfant station.  As a result, all VRE trains will hold at Union Station before departing due to the fire.  Fredericksburg Line train 309 is currently 10 minutes delayed with Manassas Line train (#331 departs Union Station 5:05p) 331 holding at Union Station.

 

 

5:32 pm
 

Update 1

 

Update 1 - All VRE trains are still holding at Union Station due to a fire on the tracks.  Metro option has been open system wide, just show your VRE ticket to Metro staff to access the metro.

 

 

5:53 pm
 

Update 2

 

VRE trains are still holding north of L'Enfant due to fire on tracks.  ETA on track maintainer is 45-60 minutes, metro option has been opened system wide.  If you can seek alternative transportation please do so, we are working closely with CSX and Amtrak to get trains out and the track cleared as soon as possible.  

 

 

6:11 pm
 

Update 3

 

A Manassas Line train will originate and depart Crystal City at 6:15p and make all stops south until Broad Run. This is the only train that we can operate south right now on will show up on the Train Status map as Manassas Line 331.

 

 

6:46 pm
 

Update 4

 

The fire department confirmed the fire is out, but we are waiting for a track maintainer, who is stuck in traffic, to ensure the tracks are safe to operate trains on. Please stay tuned for updates.

 

 

6:59 pm
 

Update 5

 

Track maintainer is on site now inspecting tracks. If tracks are safe to operate on, trains will be on the move shortly.

 

 

7:36 pm
 

Update 6

 

We are still waiting on the inspector to clear the tracks for travel. We appreciate your patience during this disruption.

 

 

7:51 pm
 

Update 7

 

Tracks are safe for travel. Trains should be on the move shortly.

 

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 October 2017 - 08:13 PM

Just when you thought it was over, another shoe drops!

 

8:31 pm
 

Update 8

 

Trains are on the move.

 

For passengers on Manassas Train #333 (which is currently approaching Crystal City at 8:22pm), that train will stop at Rolling Road to wait for the Manassas Train #335 and couple the trains together. The crew on #335 does not have enough hours of service to lawfully operate all the way to Broad Run.

 

 

9:06 pm

 

Update 9

 

Train #333 will continue its trip south without waiting for #335. When the crew on #335 nears the end of service hours, it will safely stop at a station and couple with the last Manassas train. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your patience this evening.

 



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 October 2017 - 06:40 AM

VRE Train Talk Alert, 10/23/17:
 

Service Disruption Last Friday Evening 10/20

 

 

First, we would like to apologize to everyone affected by the service disruption last Friday evening due to the brush fires north of Crystal City. We know that some of our passengers got home some three to four hours late and understand this is a major inconvenience. As a follow up, we would like to explain the timeline of events.

 

At approximately 5:05pm, we were notified of a track fire just south of the Long Bridge across the Potomac River stopping all rail traffic. We opened the Metro Option shortly after at 5:35pm so VRE passengers could transfer to Metrorail if it was a viable option. The fire department responded quickly and brought the fire under control in a timely manner. However, the track and bridge inspectors were caught in traffic on the way to the scene and did not arrive until about 6:50pm.

 

In the meantime, we had Manassas Train #338 travelling northbound (which also operates Manassas Train #337 southbound) approach Crystal City at 6:15pm and made the decision to turn the train back south at Crystal City since it couldn't go north past the scene of the fire. Since the fire affected the bridge as well, it took a long time to inspect and ensure that the bridge was safe for travel and they opened the rails for traffic at 7:50pm. At that point, there were seven VRE trains and five Amtrak trains waiting to go south. So once everything started moving, they moved slowly as they were all following each other.

 

We were making plans to operate possible bus bridges from some Metrorail stations further south or west but the combination of rush hour traffic, bus availability during rush hour, and the amount of people we estimated would need it made it difficult to organize the operation in a timely manner. If the inspectors deemed that the tracks were not safe for travel, we would have instituted this plan to get people to their stations.

 

As with all service disruptions, we will conduct an after action review with all of our stakeholders to go over what happened and identify opportunities for improvement for similar situations which may occur in the future.

 

Again, we thank all the passengers for their patience and glad everyone got home safe.

 






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