photo by Olaf Zerbock

From the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority:

“Dulles International Airport will hold its triennial full-scale emergency drill on April 27 in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The exercise will include multiple airport stakeholders and will test the emergency response and operational capability of the airport and its mutual aid partners. During the drill, normal operations will continue for airport customers. Read More

courtesy South Block

Last week heard that a Union Kitchen was was coming to IAD. Next up – a South Block:

“South Block has been cleared for landing. In 2024, the better-for-you brand — dishing up acai bowls, smoothies, and cold-pressed juices — will arrive in Concourse D at Washington Dulles International Airport Read More

Thanks to Nils for sending: “Frequent flyers will be pleased to know” Read More

photo by Jared Stern

Jared wrote us: “NBD, just a segway exploding at Dulles. Happened around 7:30pm. Walked by briskly as it was smoking. When I got to security, it burst into flames.”

Dulles wrote: ‘ALERT: Around 7:30p.m. smoke was observed in the main terminal caused by a police motorized segway. Passengers evacuated as a safety precaution. MWAA Fire and Rescue responded, contained the smoke and completed ventilation by 9 p.m. Operations resumed afterwards.”

photo by Nellie Fagan

Thanks to Nellie for sending on Saturday around 5pm:

“Chelsea and Kwame from love is blind spotted at Dulles!”

Thanks to Megan Gamble for sharing yesterday:

“I took the train all the way to Dulles on the first day this branch opened!” Read More

photo by nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Metro greenlighted to return more trains to service

Statements from Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg and Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke

“Metro leaders welcomed the concurrence today of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission to gradually return all 7000-series railcars to passenger service,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “This is a win for customers, and we are grateful to Senators Warner and Kaine for their leadership to reach an agreement that will safely return more 7Ks to service.”

“With this approval and close collaboration on the Silver Line extension safety report, Metro will be able to set an opening date in the near future,” said General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. Read More

“new wmata fare chart. this one at Farragut North has the silver line extension on it.” photo by Austin.

From WMATA:

“Date for opening now rests with Safety Commission concurrence on both Silver Line certification and new 7K Return to Service Plan

After successfully completing two weeks of simulated service, Metro leaders said today that they will be able to open the extension to Dulles Airport Station in time for the start of busy Thanksgiving travel, subject to approvals this week from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) of two submissions — a data-driven Return to Service Plan for 7000-series railcars, and a safety certification report of the Silver Line extension.

“We committed for the Silver Line extension to being operationally ready for the Silver Line extension in October, and we have met our deadline,” said General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Since control of the extension was turned over to Metro, we and our partners at the Airports Authority, Fairfax, and Loudoun have worked diligently to complete all of the steps needed for Metro to offer safe and reliable service for rail travel to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County, and we are just awaiting concurrence from our Safety Commission partners.”

Metro took custody and control of the extension from the Airports Authority on June 23 and is finalizing its safety certification report to WMSC this week. WMSC has worked alongside Metro for months and has stated that it expects to add their concurrence to Metro’s within hours or days after receiving the report from Metro’s Chief Safety Officer. Metro does not view the final Silver Line safety certification report as a barrier to preparing for the opening of passenger service before Thanksgiving holiday travel.

More Trains Needed to Open

Last month, Metro’s senior safety and operations officials expressed safety concerns about moving cars from other crowded lines for new service, and that more trains were needed to support the extension. Unfortunately, WMSC notified Metro Monday afternoon that it objects to Metro’s new (phase three) Return to Service Plan for the 7000-series rail cars, following Metro’s submission of additional data analysis Friday. (The plan was first submitted on September 28 and was not approved citing “lack of data” to support changing multiple variables at once).

The latest rejection letter continues confusing direction provided to Metro: Read More

Thanks to Benjamin for sending. It’s really happening. Stay tuned for an exact opening date.

From WMATA:

“Metrorail’s iconic map is getting an update with the addition of the six new Silver Line stations. Beginning today, you’ll start to see new maps rolling out in stations, trains and transit centers, featuring Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn. Also on the new map, Potomac Yard Station is shown as a future station. Read More