Metro Stops 7000-Series Car Returns, Orders Nightly Inspections

WASHINGTON, DC — Less than a week after Metro began reintroducing 7000-series railcars to service, Metro’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld paused the process and ordered a new round of inspections.

Although Metro officials say there are no immediate concerns, 7000-series railcars will be inspected nightly rather than weekly, which was the original plan announced on Dec. 14. On Friday, the first of the 336 railcars Metro had begun to gradually return to service began transporting customers.

Metro officials decided to make the change after the chief safety officer and chief operating officer met with the Transportation Technology Center, Inc., the consultant hired to investigate the root cause of the Oct. 12 derailment of a Blue Line train in Virginia.

Related: Metro To Begin Returning 7000-Series Trains To Service

“While I recognize the pause is unexpected, we are going to continuously evaluate data we are collecting to ensure that we are enhancing safety,” Wiedefeld said, in a release. “I feel that requiring a daily inspection is the safest course until we know more and our experts have an opportunity to review the data we are collecting with the few trainsets now in operation.”

On Thursday afternoon, Metro notified the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) of the change in plans.

Within days of the October derailment, NTSB inspectors identified safety concerns with the wheel axle assembly of the 7000-series railcars. Based on those findings, WMSC, which is charged with monitoring Metro safety, ordered all 7000-series railcars removed from service on Oct. 18.

With nearly 60 percent of its fleet sidelined, Metrorail began offering reduced service, which resulted in fewer trains and longer wait times for customers. As recently as Monday, Metro confirmed that reduced service would continue through at least the end of the year.