Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 31, 2009
Metro to begin repair work at accident site
National Transportation Safety Board concludes on-scene testing
Metro will begin repair work at the site of the June 22 accident starting next week now that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it has concluded its on-scene testing of the tracks between the Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations on the Red Line.
The NTSB’s action means that Metro will be able to begin to replace track circuitry in the area of the accident, including several thousand feet of cable, and track and circuit-related hardware. The work is expected to take about 30 days.
Riders should continue to expect the same delays that they have been experiencing on the Red Line since the accident took place while Metro completes this work.
“Reconstruction of this segment of the system is our priority,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “We were prohibited by the NTSB from doing work in this area since the time that the accident took place. We will make repairs, conduct a rigorous testing process and resume service to normal in about 30 days,” he said. “We will provide weekly updates to riders on the status of our repair work on our web site, www.metroopensdoors.com.”
Metro officials continue to take important measures to assist customers and ensure safety as the on-scene phase of the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation concludes and repair work begins.
Passenger assistance
• Assigning additional personnel to high-volume Red Line stations during rush hours to assist with crowds;
• Distributing informational flyers to riders;
• Reminding riders that all six-car and eight-car trains are pulling to the front end of the platforms at all Metrorail stations on all color lines, and that customers can check the train arrival signs on platforms to find out how many cars are in each train;
• Posting information on its Web site;
• Advising riders that as trains continue to move slower along the Red Line and that trips may take up to 30 additional minutes of travel time; and
• Providing Metrobus alternatives to Red Line service on Metro’s Web site.
Post-accident safety measures
• Monitoring all track circuitry profiles immediately after each rush-hour, 14 times per week, until an automated monitoring system is in place;
• Following up immediately with circuit anomalies that are identified in the twice-daily profiles and posting that information on its Web site;
• Working with a contractor to develop an automated track circuitry monitoring system;
• Operating all trains manually.
The NTSB is the lead agency that investigates the cause of accidents like the one on June 22. Its investigation, which may take many more months to conclude, will determine the cause of the collision and make recommendations to Metro.
Media contact for this news release: Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 5:25 pm, July 31, 2009.