Metro train derails between Potomac Yard, National Airport. No injuries reported

Metrorail Train Derails Between Potomac Yard and National Airport with No Reported Injuries

A Metrorail train derailed late Friday morning between the Potomac Yard and National Airport stations located in Northern Virginia, according to transit officials. Miraculously, there were no reported injuries.

Mid-Journey Incident Details

The train was headed in the direction of Potomac Yard when it derailed slightly south of the National Airport station. Officials reported that 43 passengers from the affected train were successfully evacuated and shuttled to continue their journeys.

Randy Clarke, the WMATA General Manager, and footage from News4 collectively confirmed that the train involved in the incident was a 7000-series train, specifically an 11 a.m. Blue Line train en route to Springfield, Virginia.

Investigations into the Cause of Derailment

Clarke noted that the derailment resulted from a fragment of a 3000-series train - potentially from a brake assembly - that was inadvertently left on the tracks. The 3000-series train implicated had undergone its daily inspection, although its last wheel inspection was on September 1. Wheel inspections for Metro trains are typically conducted every 30 days.

7000-Series Train History and Return to Service

In the aftermath of an October 2021 derailment outside Arlington Cemetery involving a 7000-series train, it was discovered that the train wheels had been shifting outward. As a result, all 7000-series trains were withdrawn from service. However, they were approved for a phased return in April of the current year by Metro and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.

Despite the incident, Metro does not believe that the recent derailment was attributed to concerns with the 7000-series train, Clarke stated. On the following day, he ordered 2000-series and 3000-series trains that had not yet undergone an inspection to be held from service as a precaution. This decision was made after discovering 12 train cars with a loosening bolt on a brake assembly.

Impact and Aftermath

The derailment seemed to have transpired at a slow speed as the train was exiting the airport. The location made it challenging, as the tracks were elevated structures outside the airport. The situation could have been significantly severe if the train had derailed with a violent movement.

Notably, Blue and Yellow line services between the National Airport and Potomac Yard stations were briefly interrupted, with shuttle buses bridging the stations to reconnect riders back to the rail service.

Potomac Yard, Metro's newest station inaugurated in May, is expected to face persistent delays in both directions for some time due to the incident. Although service resumed by midday with trains single-tracking through the area, passengers are advised to anticipate an altered schedule.

Concerns Regarding the 7000-Series Cars

Despite Metro's actions following the 2021 derailment incident, there are still lingering concerns regarding the reliability of the 7000-series railcars. Should these problems persist, Metro may need to once again withdraw these trains, which comprise 60% of its fleet, from service. This would severely impact Metro's capacity and their promises of improved service frequency.