metro

Your chance to ride the first train on the Silver Line Extension is November 15 at approximately 2 p.m.

By Prince Of Petworth

From WMATA:

“Your chance to ride the first train on the Silver Line Extension is here. Service begins November 15 at approximately 2 p.m. when the first train departs the Ashburn Station headed for Downtown Largo. Customers in Loudoun County will now have convenient access to Metrorail and Washington Dulles International Airport will be an easy train ride away for people across the region.

The start of passenger service will commence following a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting at the Washington Dulles International Airport Station to recognize this generational infrastructure investment. Customers will have an opportunity to join the celebration by sharing their happiest Metro moment for a chance to receive a “Silver Ticket” to join Metro General Manager Randy Clarke and other officials on a special preview train ride on opening day before passenger service begins. (more…)

“Metrorail customers will be back on track south of Reagan National Airport with full service resuming to six closed stations on Sunday”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Miki Jourdan

From WMATA:

“Metrorail customers will be back on track south of Reagan National Airport with full service resuming to six closed stations on Sunday, Nov. 6. Blue Line trains will serve all six stations – Braddock Rd, King St-Old Town, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington, Van Dorn St, and Franconia-Springfield – while long-term work continues to rehabilitate the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge.

Metro is also making progress on the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge Rehabilitation Project which began during the closure. The Yellow Line will remain suspended through May 2023, (more…)

It’s Officially Official, “Get ready to ride the Silver Line, six new stations opening November 15”

By Prince Of Petworth

From WMATA:

“Opening day is set for the Silver Line Extension – Tuesday, November 15 – connecting Metrorail customers to Washington Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County for the first time. The announcement came from Metro Board Members and employees in a video touting “We’re Ready,” marking the opening for customers and culmination of the largest expansion of Metrorail since the system’s inception.

On opening day, customers who visit the six new Silver Line stations – Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway, and Ashburn – will be greeted by Metro teams handing out commemorative pennants, a Metro tradition that started when the first station opened in 1976. (more…)

Metro to begin fare enforcement tomorrow, November 1

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by GordonCV

From WMATA:

“Metro Transit Police officers will begin issuing fare evasion citations on Tuesday, November 1, following a monthlong awareness and warning campaign. Citations with associated fines may be issued to anyone jumping fare gates, improperly using emergency gates, or not tapping fare boxes on Metrobuses.

Fare recovery is a major issue and has been mentioned as one of the top concerns of customers when talking with Metro staff and Metro Board Members. Revenue from fares allows Metro to keep buses, trains, and MetroAccess serving our community.

Fare evasion is responsible for significant revenue losses and is part of the focus to close a shortfall of nearly $185 million in the upcoming budget. Using data from Metrobus and pre-pandemic industry averages for Metrorail, Metro estimates revenue losses due to fare evasion totaling tens of millions of dollars in fiscal year 2022. (more…)

Developing: “Shooting inside Petworth Metro Station”

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader reports: “Station is closed.”

From Metro Transit Police: “MTPD investigating shooting at Georgia Ave stn on at ~8:40 a.m. 15-yo male shot in leg after altercation b/t group juveniles. Suspects fled. Stn closed w/trains bypassing due to ongoing invest. Shuttles from Ft Totten. Info? Call 202-962-2121; text MyMTPD (696873)” (more…)

“The increased availability of 7Ks will support opening the Silver Line extension before Thanksgiving and reduce crowding on the Red Line.”

By Prince Of Petworth


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. (more…)

Metro Police Looking for suspect “who hit & robbed a women” on escalator entering Columbia Heights Metro 7pm Saturday

By Prince Of Petworth


via Metro Transit Police

From Metro Transit Police:

“MTPD searching for suspect who hit & robbed a woman at Columbia Hgts Stn around 7 p.m. tonight. These crimes cannot be tolerated. Got a tip? DC Crime Solvers offering up to $1K reward for info leading to arrest/indictment.”

“NEW PICS (more…)

“Silver Line extension operationally ready to open for passengers by Thanksgiving” But Will It?

By Prince Of Petworth


“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: (more…)

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