Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 30, 2009

Normal service resumes on the Red Line

Track crews replace 2,000 feet of track near Bethesda Metrorail station

Normal service resumed on the Red Line at 5 a.m. today, March 30, after Metro track crews worked throughout the weekend to replace 2,000 feet of track. The track was damaged when two trains derailed Friday near the Bethesda Metrorail station.

Red Line trains shared a single track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail stations throughout the weekend while repairs were being made.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, a 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.

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.

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News release issued at 4:36 am, March 30, 2009.