Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 5, 2007

Speed restrictions in place at all above-ground stations

The fall leaves combined with early-morning snow in the region have caused unusually slippery conditions on outdoor Metrorail tracks, so trains will be operating at slower-than-usual speeds this morning to improve safety conditions.

Trains, which operate at speeds in the 55 miles-per-hour range in some areas of the Metrorail system, will be restricted to a maximum of 30 miles-per-hour in all above-ground areas of the 106-mile rail system until further notice.

The speed restrictions will mean trains will be moving slower, and so riders who are taking lengthy trips across areas of the rail system that are above ground can expect their trips to take a little longer.

The leaves have lingered on trees longer than usual this season, and this year as they continue to fall, they get crushed onto the tracks by train wheels. The combination of the crushed leaves and today's early-morning snow has resulted in difficult braking and accelerating conditions for trains, so officials, who have been carefully monitoring weather conditions, are slowing down the vehicles to improve safety conditions.

###

News release issued at 12:00 am, December 5, 2007.