Arcing insulators pose another smoky problem for Metro

Metro and D.C. Fire and EMS quickly responded to the arcing insulator at Friendship Heights Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Metro and D.C. Fire and EMS quickly responded to the arcing insulator at Friendship Heights Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Fire crews worked above and below ground at Friendship Heights station. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Fire crews worked above and below ground at Friendship Heights station. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D. C. firefighters responded to the incident on Metro's Red Line at Friendship Heights. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D.C. firefighters responded to the incident on Metro’s Red Line at Friendship Heights. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D.C. Fire and EMS supervisors said the problem was limited to smoke from an arcing insulator. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D.C. Fire and EMS supervisors said the problem was limited to smoke from an arcing insulator. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Full service resumed approximately 30 minutes after the arcing insulator problem. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Full service resumed approximately 30 minutes after the arcing insulator problem. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
After the situation was resolved, supervisors reviewed what happened. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
After the situation was resolved, supervisors reviewed what happened. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
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Metro and D.C. Fire and EMS quickly responded to the arcing insulator at Friendship Heights Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Fire crews worked above and below ground at Friendship Heights station. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D. C. firefighters responded to the incident on Metro's Red Line at Friendship Heights. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
D.C. Fire and EMS supervisors said the problem was limited to smoke from an arcing insulator. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Full service resumed approximately 30 minutes after the arcing insulator problem. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
After the situation was resolved, supervisors reviewed what happened. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

WASHINGTON — Metro’s Red Line trains had to single-track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights for about a half-hour at the height of Wednesday’s morning rush due to an arcing insulator.

Metro began single-tracking just before 8:30 a.m.

D.C. Fire and EMS supervisors on the scene said the problem was limited to smoke from the insulator that runs along the third rail.

The incident caused delays for passengers, although both stations remained open.

No injuries were reported.

Regular two-track service resumed just before 9 a.m.

A few days earlier, on Saturday, a similar insulator fire occurred nearby, in the stretch of track between Friendship Heights and Tenleytown.

At least nine people were evacuated from a train at Tenleytown after smoke filled the tunnel. No injuries were reported.

In January 2015, a woman died aboard a smoke-filled train after a similar situation caused heavy smoke at the L’Enfant Plaza station.

Last year, Metro said approximately two arcing incidents per month  on Metro are blamed on failed insulators.

Neal Augenstein

Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.

Colleen Kelleher

Colleen Kelleher is an award-winning journalist who has been with WTOP since 1996. Kelleher joined WTOP as the afternoon radio writer and night and weekend editor and made the move to WTOP.com in 2001. Now she works early mornings as the site's Senior Digital Editor.

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