Metro delays will continue through at least Nov. 15

A 7000-series railcar. [Elvert Barnes/Creative Commons]

Metrorail service will remain at the current reduced levels through at least Nov. 15, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Oct. 28. 

That will give WMATA more time to work with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission on a plan to get 7000-series railcars safely back into service. 

Trains will continue operating every 15 to 20 minutes on the Red Line and every 30 to 40 minutes on all other lines. Silver Line service will continue to operate between Wiehle-Reston East and Federal Center SW only. 

Metro cut back service following the derailment of a Blue Line train on Oct. 12 between Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery. 

An ongoing investigation by several federal agencies found “the wheel assembly on the 7000-series railcars is suspected to be a factor in the Oct. 12 derailment,” WMATA says. All 748 7000-series railcars have been pulled from the fleet. An inspection found 20 wheel axles out of alignment. 

“It has been a difficult few weeks for those who rely on transit in the region, and we thank our customers for their continued patience as we work to increase service as quickly as we can with safety being our top priority,” said Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. WMATA is working on a testing plan to safely bring all trains back into service. 

To make service more frequent and reduce crowding at certain times, Metro is working to increase the number of trains available for daily service from 31 trains to 50. That work entails accessing additional 2000, 3000, and 6000-series railcars and ensuring they are safe. 

For up-to-date scheduling information, Metro riders are encouraged to use Metro’s trip planner and live train map.