More 7000-Series Metro Trains Returning To Service In Mid-September

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With Metro's Yellow and Blue Line shutdowns set to begin on Sept. 10, the return of additional 7000-series will help Metro boost train service on Sept. 12.

Metro announced up to 20 of the 7000-series train can return on Sept. 12 with Washington Metrorail Safety Commission’s approval. Metro currently has eight of the 7000-series trains in service.

"Our 7000-series trains are the newest and most reliable in Metro’s fleet, and they are key to providing the level of service our customers want and deserve," said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke in a statement. "In my frequent conversations with Metro customers, I hear over and over that more frequent service and more 7000-series trains on the tracks are a top priority, and that’s what we’re working to deliver."

With more frequent service, Metro will replace some older six-car trains with eight-car 7000-series trains on the Red and Green lines. On Sept. 12, Green Line service will improve to every eight minutes from the current 15 minutes, seven days a week. The extra Green Line service is in response to the Yellow Line service being suspended on Sept. 10 for the Potomac Yard Metro and Yellow Line bridge and tunnel projects.

Orange, Blue and Silver Line service will remain at every 15 minutes on weekdays but improve from 20 minutes to 15 minutes on weekends. Supplemental Blue Line service will also be provided to replace the Yellow Line during the construction projects. Blue Line service will run from National Airport to Largo as well as National Airport to New Carrollton during the Yellow Line service suspension. Supplemental Blue Line service will be extended to run from Huntington to New Carrollton after the Potomac Yard Metro work ends on Oct. 22.

Red Line service will remain at the current level of every 10 minutes seven days a week.

For riders traveling to stations between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armony, a Blue, Orange or Silver line train will arrive every four minutes. On the Blue Line, trains will arrive every eight minutes between National Airport and Stadium-Armory.

The 7000-series railcars have been out of passenger service due to the investigation into a Blue Line train derailment on Oct. 12, 2021 between the Rosslyn and Arlington National Cemetery stations in Virginia. A subsequent investigation revealed problems with the wheel axle assembly of Metro's 7000 series railcars, forcing Metro to sideline nearly 60 percent of its fleet. Attempts to return 7000-series in early 2022 had been halted by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission as wheel axle assemblies continued to go out of alignment.

In the spring, Metro began reviewing its new return to service plan with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, including training employees on new inspection guidelines that will allow them to start recommissioning the railcars.

Metro has been using a new process to make back-to-back wheel measurements each day using a digital gauge. The transit agency said none of the returned 7000-series trains have failed the daily back-to-back measurement. Metro is also developing drive-thru technology on the tracks to provide real-time data about all railcars, allowing officials to know when to pull railcars with wheel measurement changes from the fleet.

Metro Yellow and Blue Line projects begin Sept. 10

Metro will begin a multi-phase project on the Blue and Yellow Lines on Sept. 10. Due to the new Potomac Yard Metro station being integrated into current tracks, there will be no Metrorail service from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22 at the six Yellow and Blue Line stations south of Reagan National Airport — the Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield stations. At the same time, Yellow Line service will be suspended between Pentagon and L'Enfant Plaza between Sept. 10 and May 2023 for work on the Yellow Line tunnels and bridge over the Potomac River.

Impacted Metro riders are encouraged to plan for travel alternatives, including free shuttle buses serving the closed stations.

SEE ALSO: Fare-Free Virginia Railway Express Arrives In September