Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 12, 2010

Metro enhances passenger rail safety by installing red platform warning lights at 14 Metrorail stations

Red warning lights alert riders of an approaching train

In its continuing efforts to enhance passenger rail safety, Metro is installing red platform warning lights at 14 Metrorail stations that will make it easier to alert riders of the next arriving train.

Red platform warning lights were installed at the Greenbelt, College Park- U of Md, Prince George’s Plaza, Georgia Ave-Petworth, Columbia Heights, Gallery Pl-Chinatown (lower level), Congress Heights, Anacostia, Southern Ave, Naylor Road, Suitland, Branch Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood and the Rosslyn Metrorail stations. Lights will be installed at a dozen more stations next year.

Since 2007, the red LED (light-emitting diode) platform warning lights have been installed at the Gallery Place-Chinatown, L=Enfant Plaza, Metro Center, Smithsonian, Union Station, Stadium-Armory, Pentagon, Navy Yard, Waterfront-SEU, Archives Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter, Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center, Foggy Bottom-GWU, Capitol South, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, McPherson Square, Federal Center SW, Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Farragut North, Judiciary Square, and Fort Totten (Red Line platform) Metrorail stations.

“Safety is our number one top priority at Metro, and these red warning lights are a proven reminder to our customers to stand back from the platform edge when a train is approaching the station,” said James Dougherty, Metro’s Chief Safety Officer.

Each lamp contains 34 LED bulbs, consumes approximately 10 watts of power and is estimated to last 10 to 12 years. The bulb burns steady at 50 percent power and flashes at 100 percent power when a train approaches or is at the station.

Metro anticipates saving $100,000 annually by using the red LED warning lights on its station platforms.


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News release issued at 12:55 pm, August 12, 2010.