Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 27, 2009

Red Line delays expected throughout the weekend after trains derail near Bethesda Metrorail station

Normal service expected Monday morning

Red Line trains will continue to share a single track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail stations throughout the weekend due to a derailment that occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Full service on the Red Line is expected to resume when the Metrorail system opens on Monday, March 30.

Customers should expect delays on the Red Line throughout the weekend as Metro workers repair portions of track that were damaged when a train derailed.

Metro’s preliminary investigation indicates that a broken piece of rail caused the trains to derail. The rail will be sent to a lab for further analysis and Metro’s investigation will continue.

Metro track workers will work throughout the weekend to repair dozens of feet of damaged rail.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. six-car inbound train (train #125) heading toward the Glenmont Metrorail station derailed between the Bethesda and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations. When a second train (train #204) was brought in to move the disabled train, Metro discovered that the rear wheels on the last car of train 125 had popped off the tracks. During the rescue process, the first car of train 204 came off the tracks.

Approximately 84 passengers were safely rescued from train 125. There were no passengers on train 204. There are no reports of injuries at this time.

Shuttle buses supplemented the Red Line service throughout Friday evening’s rush hour.

News release issued at 8:12 pm, March 27, 2009.