Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 3, 2007

Locked Brakes Cause of Thursday's Major Delays on Blue, Orange Lines

A Blue Line train’s brakes locked in the tunnel between the Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn Metrorail stations last night, August 2, during rush hour, delaying passengers from getting home.

The brakes of a six-car Blue Line train headed to Franconia-Springfield locked up at 5:26 p.m. and it took Metro staff 47 minutes to move the train to Rosslyn Metrorail station, where the passengers exited and waited for another train to continue their trip.

Because the train was stopped for such a lengthy period of time, platforms became crowded, trains backed up and when trains were available, they were quickly filled.

A six-car Orange Line train that was behind the downed Blue Line train was used to push the disabled train to Rosslyn. To do so, a railcar mechanic had to walk through the tunnel to assist in coupling the trains together, and releasing the brakes.

Both trains arrived at the Rosslyn Metrorail station at 6:13 p.m. and customers exited both trains.

While Metro personnel were addressing the downed train, the remaining Blue and Orange Line trains took turns sharing one track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon on the Orange Line and Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line. Passengers between these locations incurred additional delays when a rail switch, which enables trains to move from one track to another, developed a mechanical problem. Personnel were dispatched to the rail switch to make repairs.

At about the same time of the incident, Metro’s e-alert system also failed. It went back on line later in the evening. Metro officials made continuous rail system announcements about the Blue and Orange line delays.

“We sincerely apologize for last evening’s delays,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “Thousands of Blue and Orange Line riders were impacted by last night’s series of events. I have heard from many people about their long trip home. Already this morning we have pulled together a team representing several operational offices departments to focus on how to improve our response in the future.”
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News release issued at 12:00 am, August 3, 2007.