Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 28, 2010

Speed restrictions on Yellow/Blue Lines

Piece of track equipment derailed; no injuries

Metrorail riders in northern Virginia who travel on the Yellow and Blue Lines between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Crystal City Metrorail station will notice slower moving trains through that area as a result of speed restrictions in place following two early-morning derailments of a piece of track equipment.

The first incident took place as the system was preparing to open for service and the second time after it was rerailed and headed back to the yard. There were no injuries.

The first time the vehicle derailed it caused some minor damage to the tracks, which underwent immediate repairs to allow trains to return to normal travel patterns. Trains were single-tracking between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Pentagon City Metrorail stations until about 7 a.m. to allow the repairs to be made.

The piece of track equipment that derailed is called a speed swing vehicle. It has rubber tires, but also has special wheels that allow it to ride on the tracks and to rerail itself.

It was returning from overnight work back to Alexandria Yard at the time of the incident when it derailed. It derailed a second time as it headed back to the rail yard. There was no damage to tracks after the second incident and the vehicle was moved to a pocket track (a track adjacent to the main-line tracks) to be stored and examined until it can be moved to the rail yard late tonight without affecting service.

Both incidents took place between the Crystal City and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations.

News release issued at 7:23 am, April 28, 2010.