Metro Service Suspended on Part of Orange, Silver Lines After Derailment
It's been a brutal morning for Metro and its riders after a train derailed at a Northern Virginia station, causing major delays for commuters Friday morning. And the evening commute won't be any easier. (Published 3 hours ago)
It was a brutal morning for Metro and its riders after a train derailed at a Northern Virginia station, causing major delays for commuters Friday morning. And the evening commute won't be any easier.
Train service is suspended between the McLean and Ballston stations on the Silver Line, and the West Falls Church and Ballston on the Orange Line. The service disruption will continue through the evening commute, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said at a news conference Friday morning.
Seventy-five people were on the train when it derailed about 100 feet from the East Falls Church Metro station platform Friday morning. The train remained upright, and all of the passengers were escorted to the platform.
The derailment happened at a "switch-point" where the train switches from one rail to another. Metro says the incident happened outside the SafeTrack work zone.
Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld says it's "too early to tell" what caused the derailment.
"I'm not going to make any assumptions," Wiedefeld added.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending two investigators to the scene to determine whether there's a need for a more extensive investigation.
One passenger was transported to the hospital and treated for a concussion after he hit his head on the train's window.
Metro Riders Forced on Shuttles After Train Derailment
Metro riders were forced to wait in massive lines after a train derailed at the East Falls Church Metro station Friday. (Published 3 hours ago)One passenger recalled the moments before the derailment on Twitter, describing it as an "unusual" trip.
"Left Ballston really slow. Picked up speed nearing EFC [East Falls Church] then hopped track & careened towards fence," @apesnbears wrote.
Another passenger using the Twitter handle @Durth_Vader said the derailment felt like an earthquake.
The East Falls Church Metro station is currently closed to passengers.
Shuttles are being used to transport commuters between the affected stations. But lines for the buses are massive, and many riders shared their frustration about the wait on Twitter.
".@wmata claims shuttle service 'established' at w. falls after derailment at e. falls. No one's convinced," Erica Wenig wrote on Twitter.
Brian Gannon wrote, "Shuttles are a mess. Got on McLean shuttle at Ballston-went to WFC and offloaded. I almost got arrested by #wmata PD for losing my cool."
Riders on both the Orange and Silver lines have been dealing with delays for over a week. Trains have been single-tracking between the Ballston and East Falls Church stations since July 20 as a part of Metro's fifth SafeTrack safety surge.
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By The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Va. —
Jul 29, 2016, 2:55 PM ET
Metro says a train derailed in northern Virginia, injuring one of about 75 passengers on board.
Media outlets report Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said the derailment Friday morning caused significant damage to the tracks, switch mechanism and two rail cars. Service is suspended through the area on the orange and silver lines at least through Saturday.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel says a man who said he was sleeping when the train derailed was taken to a hospital with a head injury.
Metro officials say the derailment happened by a switch where trains begin using one track in an area where Metro's performing work as part of a major maintenance effort.
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent two investigators to the scene, board spokesman Eric Weiss said. The board is trying to determine whether to open a wider investigation into the incident, he said.