Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 4, 2004
Metro provides update on this morning’s Red Line delay
A broken "field weld" at the Fort Totten Metrorail station created between a 20 to 30 minute delay in both directions on the Red Line this morning between 6:28 a.m. and 7:46 a.m. when Red Line trains shared a single track between the Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations. Trains slowed from 42 miles per hour to 28 miles per hour briefly when trains crossed onto one shared track. A "field weld" is a portion of track that is welded together to improve ride quality.
Throughout the remainder of the day, trains will operate at restricted speeds of 35 miles per hour until personnel can make permanent repairs tonight after closing. The affect of this evening’s delay should be seamless to customers because the total running time will only increase by one or two minutes.
Just before 6:30 a.m., a track circuit near Fort Totten went out of service and Metro officials switched from automatic to manual operations. Automatic Train Control (ATC) personnel went to the scene and identified a broken weld on one of the inbound tracks in the direction of Shady Grove. The crack in the rail occurred where two sections of track had been welded together. The break in the weld caused the track circuit to go out, resulting in the need to single track trains between Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations.
The weld was made in June 2004 by a contractor and inspected by Sperry Rail Services in August 2004, which conducts an ultrasonic test of the rails. The " internal" rail flaw was not detected by Sperry. This type of flaw is not detectable by the human eye because it is " internal" to the rail.
"This type of situation happens without warning," said Metrorail Chief Operating Officer Steven Feil. During a track inspection in August, no defects, cracks or imperfections were found on the rails. We are sorry that the problem resulted in delays to our customers. We hope to make a permanent repair tonight when the system is closed. Speed restrictions will remain in place throughout the day to ensure safety.
At this time, track personnel have made temporary repairs to the affected rail and trains were running on both tracks before 8 a.m., however at restricted speeds. The speed restrictions are part of the standard operating procedures which allow Metro to operate safely over the affected portion of track. Tonight after the Metrorail system closes at midnight, Metro personnel will be able to make permanent repairs to the rail.
Metro regularly conducts track inspections to ensure the reliability and safety of the rail system. Metro uses a special machine which rides the rail and can detect cracks or other flaws. This type of inspection is conducted twice a year. Also, track walkers visually inspect the rails on a routine basis. Neither of these inspections turned up any problems.
News release issued on October 4, 2004.