WMATA: No timeline to return 7000 series cars to service as inspections continue (Washington, DC)

[brooklynite]

Mass Transit

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) says reduced Metrorail service will continue at least through Oct. 31 with service every 15-10 minutes on the Red Line and every 20-30 minutes on other lines.

WMATA had to pull roughly 60 percent of its fleet after an Oct. 12 derailment involving its 7000-series railcars. The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission ordered WMATA to pull the cars by 5:00 a.m. Oct. 18. The 7000-series car involved in the derailment was found to have a fourth axle that was out of compliance with specifications for the 7000-series car wheel and axle assembly. However, this has not been named as the cause of the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the derailment.

In a media briefing on Oct. 22, WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld did not provide a timeline for when the 7000-series railcars would return to service, stating several times the safety of the railcars would drive their return to service.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I rode Metrorail last Wednesday afternoon.

On the way in, I went from Braddock Road (Blue and Yellow Lines) to Union Station (Red Line). I took the Blue Line to Metro Center, where I transferred to the Red Line. On the way back, I took a Green Line train from Mt. Vernon Square to L'Enfant Plaza. I thought about transferring to the Blue Line, but I transferred to the Yellow Line instead for the return trip to Braddock Road. Even though the Blue Line train was arriving first, the Yellow Line train got me to Braddock Road before the Yellow Line train would.

I was on 3000-series cars all the way. It was a lot of fun seeing the old equipment, and I took a few videos.

On Saturday, I transferred buses at the King Street station, twice. I saw nothing but 3000-series cars that day as well.