By Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Ecmweb 8570 Metrorial
Ecmweb 8570 Metrorial
Ecmweb 8570 Metrorial
Ecmweb 8570 Metrorial
Ecmweb 8570 Metrorial

DC Metrorail Service Suspended Today for Emergency Inspections

March 16, 2016
The inspections of approximately 600 "jumper cables" will occur along all tunnel segments on the Metrorail system

The DC Metro general manager announced the full closure of the Metrorail system starting at midnight on Tuesday, March 15, for emergency inspections of the system's third-rail power cables following an early morning tunnel fire yesterday. The system will remain closed until 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

The inspections of approximately 600 "jumper cables" will occur along all tunnel segments on the Metrorail system. At the conclusion of the inspection process, there may be a need for additional rail service outages. Any further service impacts will be announced to the public as soon as they are known.

"While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, and that is why we must take this action immediately," Wiedefeld said. "When I say safety is our highest priority, I mean it. That sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions, and this is one of those times. I fully recognize the hardship this will cause."

All six Metrorail lines and all 91 stations will remain closed during this inspection period.

The unprecedented action follows a Tuesday morning electrical fire involving a cable in the tunnel outside McPherson Square Station. There were no injuries; however, service was disrupted along the Blue, Orange and Silver lines throughout the day.

“The investigation into yesterday’s cable fire at McPherson Square is ongoing," Wiedefeld said. “As a preliminary matter, the conditions appear disturbingly similar to those in the L’Enfant incident of a year ago, and our focus is squarely on mitigating any risk of a fire elsewhere on the system.” 

Metrobus and MetroAccess service will continue to operate on a regular schedule. Limited, supplemental Metrobus service will be provided between Pentagon and Downtown DC (Franklin Square). Parking will be free in all Metro-owned lots and garages for customers who wish to take bus or carpool.

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