Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 28, 2005

Two cracked rails being repaired

11 a.m. update

A cracked rail on an outbound piece of track at the Van Dorn Street Metrorail station that happened shortly after 7 a.m. delayed Blue Line commuters this morning and a second cracked rail discovered about three hours later (9:50 a.m.) just south of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station on an inbound piece of track caused some mid-morning delays.

Both cracks triggered a signal that alerted Metro officials of the problems. Track inspectors were dispatched to confirm the problems, assess the damage and begin the repairs.

By 9:20 a.m. a temporary repair was in place at the Van Dorn Street station and trains were permitted to ride through the area at restricted speeds. The temporary repair was made to allow customers to get through the morning rush period.

At the National Airport station, customers are getting around the problem as trains single track from Braddock Road to the National Airport station. Repair crews are placing a temporary repair on the damaged track and will make permanent repairs tonight when the rail system is closed.

Once the temporary repairs are made at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, the repair crew will return to Van Dorn Street station to make permanent repairs early this afternoon. Regular service is expected in that area for the afternoon rush hour.

Both repairs call for workers to cut out the damaged pieces of track and replace them with a new piece. Then testing takes place to ensure that the repairs are strong and safe before allowing trains to use the repaired sections again.

News release issued on January 28, 2005.