WASHINGTON – Track problems identified through inspections have led to slowdowns along stretches of the Red and Orange lines, Metro says.
Trains have been inching along at 15 mph around Bethesda and West Falls Church due to the track defects.
Although there are often speed restrictions in effect on various parts of the Metro system, the slow downs on the Orange and Red lines might be more noticeable to regular riders because they occur in areas where trains typically travel faster than they do between stations downtown, which are closer together.
For several days this week, riders noticed some slow trips and delays tied to speed restrictions, Metro acknowledged, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the Blue, Orange and Silver lines near Stadium-Armory.
When Metro’s specialized equipment detects track problems that need to be fixed, the response varies from speed restrictions to taking the track out of service depending on the severity of the problem.
Metro can impose medium speed restrictions of 40 mph, slow restrictions of 15 mph or immediately take a section of track out of service entirely for the most serious threats, which should have happened before a derailment in August. In that case, the track defect was deleted from a computer system, the track wasn’t fixed and an empty train derailed outside the Smithsonian Station.
Although not specifically related to the derailment, Metro is set to replace about 400 feet of track next week along a sharp curve where the train derailed.
The track replacement work will lead to delays and service changes beginning at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday for the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. While the Blue and Orange lines will single-track between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW, Silver Line trains will run only between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East from.
Metro has track inspectors walk through the system to look for issues, and the Federal Transit Administration has directed Metro to reverse cuts to that program to ensure tracks are adequately checked.
