Posts by Stephen Repetski — Editorial Board Alum
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Almost half of Metro train operators aren’t properly certified, Metro says
Nearly half of all Metro train operators are behind on their safety and operations certification and some haven’t been fully certified in three years, the transit agency’s Chief Safety Officer (CSO) stated Sunday. Keep reading…
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Unapproved process change grounds Metro’s 7000-series railcars (again)
Metro’s 7000-series railcar fleet has been grounded, again, after problems with wheelset inspections caused the agency’s safety oversight body to reverse a plan to return them to service. Keep reading…
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Metro submits 7000-series testing plan and returns more trains to service
Metro’s first plan needed before being able to return the agency’s 7000-series railcars to service has been submitted to WMATA’s safety oversight board. Meanwhile, more trains come back online. Keep reading…
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Rockville, Shady Grove Metro station reopenings delayed until January
The reopening of two Metro stations that were closed in September so a platform canopy could be demolished and reconstructed will be delayed by a month, according to a Metro contractor. Keep reading…
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The wheels on Metro’s 7000-series trains may not have been put on securely enough
A technical specification that changed how the 7000-series trains’ wheels were put onto their axles appears to be a possible contributing factor to the Blue line derailment outside Rosslyn last week. Keep reading…
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Wheel issue known since 2017 causes Metro to pull its 7000-series trains
The safety board heading the investigation into last week’s Blue Line derailment outside Rosslyn discovered issues with the axles that the cars run on, potentially affecting the entire car series. Keep reading…
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Two safety boards investigate a Blue Line train derailment outside Arlington Cemetery station
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a Blue Line train that derailed outside of Arlington Cemetery Tuesday afternoon. Keep reading…
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Metro’s 6000-series trains are on their way back
Talk about trainspotting. Some riders and railfans caught a glimpse of the 6000-series train cars on the Red Line last week. Keep reading…
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While still working on train automation, Metro makes moves toward a new signaling system
Metro was built with Automatic Train Operation in mind, but the system hasn’t been used in years. Now Metro is looking at ways to turn ATO back on while also exploring implementing a whole new signaling system. Keep reading…
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Metro’s Rail Operations Control Center splits the system into three parts. Soon, it will be four.
Like the control tower at the airport, Metro has control centers that tell trains where to go. On Aug. 22, Metro made an addition that will spread out the workload and make the system safer and more reliable. Keep reading…