UPDATE 9/21/15 4:53 p.m.: Service has been restored on Metro’s Silver and Blue lines between Eastern Market and Benning Road following the earlier fire activity. Service has been restored on the Orange Line between Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue as well.
Expect residual delays, Metro says.
Bus transportation to help with the rail suspensions have been canceled.
EARLIER 9/21/15 3:22 p.m.: WASHINGTON — Metro service continues to be suspended on a portion of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines Monday as crews work to restore rail service after a fire at power substation in the area of Stadium-Armory.
Around 7:30 a.m., some service was suspended because of a fire at the substation located in the parking lot of RFK Stadium. Service was suspended on the Blue and Silver lines between Eastern Market and Benning Road. On the Orange line, service was suspended between Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue. The smoke forced the closure of the Stadium-Armory station.
Metro says riders should not expect service through Stadium-Armory for the evening rush. The transit agency says it is hoping to have limited service with speed restrictions back for the evening.
Service is operating as follows:
- Orange Line: Trains are operating between Eastern Market and Vienna and between New Carrollton and Minnesota Avenue. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Buses are replacing trains between Minnesota Avenue and Eastern Market, making all intermediate station stops.
- Blue Line: Trains are operating between Eastern Market and Franconia-Springfield and between Largo Town Center and Benning Road. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Buses are replacing trains between Benning Road and Eastern Market, making all intermediate station stops.
- Silver Line: Trains are operating only between Wiehle-Reston East and East Falls Church. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Riders traveling outbound to Virginia from DC should use an Orange Line train and transfer at East Falls Church to continue their trip.
- Yellow, Green and Red line service is unaffected by this disruption.
The fire involved one of the three transformers in the substation. The transformers convert commercial electricity from alternating current to direct current for use by trains, says Metro. Two other transformers at the facility appear to be unaffected.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Metro personnel are working to feed electricity from two other power substations. Once the reconfiguration in completed, train service will be able to be restored. However, Metro says trains will likely be required to operate at a reduced speed through the are to minimize power draw.
On Monday morning, D.C. Fire and EMS dispatched units at 7:15 a.m. to RFK Stadium’s lot 6.
Metro set up bus services between Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue and between Eastern Market and Benning Road. Earlier Monday morning, Metro riders tweeted photos of long lines for the shuttles.
Huge group waiting on ONE @wmata shuttle bus. Looks like no one is getting to work on time. #NoService pic.twitter.com/rVSuVlq0NG
— Andrew Chwalik (@andrewchwalik) September 21, 2015
#MetroMess at Benning Road only one shuttle bus on site! @thejuliewright @WTOPtraffic @ErinFox5DC @First4Traffic pic.twitter.com/JiVdSys0aK
— Korie D. Rose (@koriedrose) September 21, 2015
Commuters also can use Metrobuses.
Metrobus – Potomac Ave – 30-Lines on Pennsylvania Ave, V1 to Bureau of Engraving, V4 to Navy Yard, B2 to Stadium Armory 8:26a #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) September 21, 2015
Metrobus – Potomac Ave – 30-Lines on Pennsylvania Ave, V1 to Bureau of Engraving, V4 to Navy Yard, B2 to Stadium Armory 8:26a #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) September 21, 2015
