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WMATA: "Wide-gauge" Derailment - Aug 6, 2015


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 05:36 AM

WMATA Service Alerts:

 

 
Blue/Ora/Silver: Train service suspended btwn Federal Ctr & McPherson Sq due to derailment of NON-passenger train. Buses en route. Seek alternates.
08/06/2015 05:48 AM

 

 
 
 
Silver Line trains operating btwn Wiehle Ave & E Falls Church ONLY. Transfer to Orange Line to continue trip. Expect crowding/delays.
08/06/2015 05:52 AM

 

 

 
 
Red Line: Single tracking btwn Friendship Hts & Medical Center due to a disabled train outside Bethesda. Delays in both directions.
08/06/2015 06:11 AM

 

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 05:40 AM

The Washington Post "Dr. Gridlock" blog, 8/6 6:22 am:

 

Derailment of non-passenger Metro train, delays on Blue, Orange and Silver lines and trains on Red Line sharing a track

 

A Metro train — without passengers aboard — derailed Thursday morning, causing service to be suspended on parts of three rail lines.

Also, trains are sharing a track on the Red Line between Friendship Heights and Medical Center stops because of a disabled train outside the Bethesda stop.

 

There are no trains running on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines between the Federal Center and McPherson Square stations.

 

Basically, avoid Metro if possible today.

 

Few details were immediately available on the derailment. The train on the Orange and Silver lines went off the tracks at the Smithsonian stop.

 

Continue here.  (Links to updated blog posts.)



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 07:39 AM

WMATA news release, 8/6 6:29 am:

 

Orange, Blue and Silver Line service disruption Thursday, August 6

 

Metro is advising Orange, Blue and Silver riders of a service disruption that will impact service during the morning rush hour of Thursday, August 6 due to derailment of a non-passenger train at a switch point outside of Smithsonian Station. There were no passengers aboard the train and no injuries to the operator. 

 

 Service Information: 

  • Rail service on the Blue and Orange lines has been suspended between Federal Center SW and McPherson Square stations. 
  • Smithsonian and Federal Triangle stations are closed.
  • Lower level platforms at Metro Center and L'Enfant Plaza stations are closed.
  • Silver Line trains will operate between Wiehle-Reston East and East Falls Church only to reduce congestion downtown. Silver Line riders should transfer to Orange Line trains to continue their trip.
  • Riders will experience significant delays on the Blue/Orange/Silver lines and should consider alternate travel options this morning.
  • Yellow Line may provide an alternate for riders traveling from Virginia to Downtown DC

Boarding locations for shuttle buses

  • Federal Center - 3rd St & D St SW
  • L'Enfant Plaza - 7th St & D St SW
  • Smithsonian - 12th & Independence Ave SW
  • Federal Triangle - 12th St NW between Pennsylvania & Constitution
  • Metro Center - 11th & G St NW
  • McPherson Square - 14th & I St NW

All regular-route Metrobus service in Downtown DC will allow affected rail passengers to ride free to their detinations.

 

Metro personnel are working to restore normal service as quickly and safely as possible.  However, at this time there is no estimate on when normal service will be restored.

 

The cause of the incident is under investigation.



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 01:35 PM

WMATA service advisory:

 

Posted: Aug 06, 2015 Expiration: Aug 06, 2015

 

Metro restores single-track rail service on Blue/Orange lines

 

Metro has restored limited rail service using a single track between McPherson Square and Federal Center SW stations. The restoration of service follows the successful re-railing of two railcars from the non-passenger train that derailed this morning at a switch location outside Smithsonian.

 

Trains will operate as follows:

  • Orange Line: Trains running in both directions between Vienna and New Carrollton. Trains will run less frequently than normal due to single tracking and will bypass Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations.
  • Blue Line: Trains running in both directions between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center. Trains will run less frequently than normal due to single tracking and will bypass Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations.
  • Silver Line: Trains will run ONLY between Wiehle-Reston East and East Falls Church. Silver Line riders traveling between DC and Virginia should transfer to/from Orange Line trains at East Falls Church.

Federal Triangle & Smithsonian Stations Remain Closed

  • In the interest of reducing train delays through the single tracking area, two stations -- Federal Triangle and Smithsonian -- will remain closed.
  • All Orange and Blue line trains will run non-stop between Metro Center and L'Enfant Plaza (bypassing Federal Triangle and Smithsonian).
  • Free shuttle buses will run in a continuous loop between Metro Center, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and L'Enfant Plaza. (Federal Triangle is a 0.3 mile walk to Metro Center. Smithsonian is a 0.4 mile walk to L'Enfant Plaza.)
  • NOTE: Only riders traveling to/from Federal Triangle or Smithsonian need to use shuttle bus service. All other riders can remain on the train.

Closures-6.jpg?What to Expect

  • Customers on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines may experience longer waits for trains due to single tracking. Trains will run in one direction for approximately 15 minutes, and then the flow of traffic will be reversed to run in the opposite direction for approximately 15 minutes.
  • At Metro Center and L'Enfant Plaza, all trains -- both directions -- will arrive on the eastbound (to New Carrollton/Largo) track.
  • There will be no Silver Line trains between East Falls Church and Largo Town Center. Use Orange or Blue line trains instead.
  • Platform Information Displays (i.e. "Next Train" signs) will not show accurate predictions during single tracking.

Additional Travel Tips & Ways to Avoid Delays

  • If traveling between DC and Virginia: Consider using the Yellow Line if possible. Board Yellow Line trains at Gallery Place (Red Line transfer point), Archives or L'Enfant Plaza stations.
  • If traveling between Red Line stations and Blue/Orange/Silver line stations in Virginia: Transfer between lines by using Farragut Crossing. For example, riders can exit at Farragut North, walk one block to Farragut West and re-enter the Metrorail system at no cost.
  • Consider bus service: Metrobus and Circulator bus service may provide an option for some riders. To check, use the Trip Planner at wmata.com and select the "bus only" option. For example, Metrobus 38B route provides service from Downtown DC to several Orange Line stations in Virginia.

Metro crews continue work to complete re-railing work at the site of this morning's derailment. A cause has not yet been determined.



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 01:38 PM

The Washington Post "News Alert" email, 8/6 2:31 pm:

 

Metro restores limited rail service after derailment

 

Metro officials said limited rail service has been restored using a single track between the McPherson Square and Federal Center SW stations in downtown Washington. The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations will be closed through the afternoon rush. Silver Line trains will operate only between Wiehle Avenue and East Falls Church. Stay with Dr. Gridlock for the latest.

 

Read more »

 



#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 01:44 PM

WTOP radio "Commuter Alert" email 8/6 2:35 pm:

 

Metro's Blue/Orange lines single tracking

 

On Metro’s Blue/Orange lines, limited train service is being restored with single tracking between McPherson Square and Federal Center SW.

 

Read more: http://bit.ly/1NcJcNj

 



#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 August 2015 - 07:43 PM

WTOP radio "Commuter Alert," 8:22 pm:

 

Metro station update

 

Federal Triangle & Smithsonian Metro stations are now open, but trains continue to single track between McPherson Square & Federal Center.

 



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 07 August 2015 - 07:30 AM

WTOP radio "Commuter Alert" email, 8/7 4:52 am:

 

Orange, Blue, Silver lines

 

Metro says that all stations will be open and that the Silver Line will run from Wiehle-Reston East. Single-tracking will continue between McPherson Square and Federal Center SW until about 7 a.m.

 

More here.

 



#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 07 August 2015 - 07:31 AM

WTOP radio "Commuter Alert" email, 8/7 6:54 am:
 

 

Orange, Silver and Blue lines

 

Metro says two-track service has been restored between McPherson Square and Federal Center SW.

 

More here.

 



#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 07 August 2015 - 08:13 AM

The Washington Post, posted 8/6 10:07 pm:

 

Metro officials say cause of derailment is still under investigation

 

The country’s second-largest rail system had been open for barely 20 minutes Thursday morning when Metro experienced yet another breakdown in a seemingly endless series of breakdowns. This time, a train preparing to begin service at the Smithsonian station derailed, forcing Metro officials to halt operations on portions of three lines and to shut down two stations.

 

The move left thousands of angry, frustrated commuters on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines scrambling for alternate ways to navigate the region — and howling over the latest incident to plague the troubled system.

 

The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations reopened around 8 p.m., and trains were servicing those stations. Single tracking continued.

 

SNIP

 

The train was performing what is considered a routine daily move.

 

It left the New Carrollton rail yard shortly after the system opened at 5 a.m. It was headed west, but was going to switch over to the eastbound track near the Federal Triangle stop and pick up its first passengers of the day at the Smithsonian station.

 

The train began to derail as it was moving through the interlocking . Three cars of the train, made up of several of the system’s oldest 1000- and 2000-series rail cars, went off the track. Requa said the rail cars did not tip over and that the wheels landed about a foot from the tracks.

 

More here.






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