metro

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of November 20-22 with service adjustments on three of six lines beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.

This weekend, trains will operate as follows:

Orange, Silver and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals
Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
Blue Line trains will operate every 24 minutes.
Yellow Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq only.”

From WMATA:

“The Metro Transit Police Department continues to coordinate with its federal law-enforcement partners and monitor information regarding the tragic events in Paris.

MTPD has taken the following steps in response to the attacks:

• Increased patrols systemwide. Riders will likely notice an increased police presence throughout the transit system. The additional patrols began Friday evening and will continue for an unspecified period of time.
• Additional K9 sweeps. MTPD has more than 20 K9 teams in service conducting security sweeps in and around rail stations and other critical infrastructure.
• Expanded random explosives screening. MTPD has expanded random explosives screening at station entrances. Any bag or package carried onto the system may be subject to screening by MTPD officers.

In addition to these announced steps, MTPD and its local and federal law enforcement partners have implemented several other countermeasures that are not visible to the traveling public.

Customers reminded to remain vigilant
All Metro customers should immediately report any suspicious activity or unattended items to MTPD by calling (202) 962-2121 or texting “MyMTPD.” Riders are encouraged to program MTPD’s number into their cell phone. In an emergency, call 911.

Additional changes to Metro’s security posture are possible as information or events warrant.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jamelle Bouie

Metro Haikus by John Nicoll Vol. 4 – Paranoico. You can spot John on the Red Line commuting between Brookland and Bethesda. “MetroHaikuDC‘s daily transit musings are brightening DC’s metro tunnels, 17 syllables at a time. I started writing a haiku a day on my 40 minute daily train ride to and from work. It passes the time and keeps things lighthearted in some of the metro’s darkest times.”

Please enjoy Paranoico this week:

Talking about me
They think I don’t speak Spanish
They are right, I don’t

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of November 13-15 with service adjustments on all six lines beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.

This weekend, trains will operate as follows:

Red Line trains will operate every 22 minutes.
Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq only.
Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals except at Suitland and Branch Ave on Saturday.

Derek Douglas tweets us:

“More issues on Red Line-Dupont. Smoke seen and smell of electrical fire.”

WMATA tweeted:

“Silver Spring-bound Red Line train offloading at Dupont Circle, brake problem. Next train at Woodley Park. 8:42a”

“Disabled train at Dupont Circle moving off the line, expect delays as trains resume spacing. 8:46a”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of November 6-8 with service adjustments on five of six lines beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.

This weekend, trains will operate as follows:

Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes.
Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq only.
Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Brett Bowers

From WMATA:

“Metro Interim General Manager Jack Requa today announced that Orange and Silver line trains will resume normal service at Stadium-Armory Station starting Monday, Nov. 9, following power system upgrades.

Currently, only Blue Line trains stop at Stadium-Armory Station weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During these times, Orange and Silver line trains pass through the station without stopping to reduce strain on the electrical system following a substation fire on Monday, Sept. 21. The fire severely damaged a 9-megawatt substation that supplies electricity to the third rail in the area. Since the incident, Metro has had to feed power to the area from smaller adjacent substations.

The restoration of normal service at Stadium-Armory is possible thanks to emergency upgrades at an adjacent power substation, located near Potomac Avenue Station. In response to the fire, crews identified a creative workaround by adding 3 megawatts of electrical output at the Potomac Avenue substation, in addition to its original capacity of 4 megawatts. As a result, the Potomac Avenue substation now has a capacity of 7 megawatts, enough to allow Orange, Silver and Blue line trains to stop normally at Stadium-Armory Station without overloading the system or disrupting service. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

From WMATA:

“With unanimous Board support, Paul Wiedefeld was named Metro’s new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (GM/CEO) today. Mr. Wiedefeld will be formally appointed at WMATA’s next Board of Directors meeting on November 19.

“This Board is very pleased to have a senior executive of Mr. Wiedefeld’s caliber who will help us build a new standard of safety, reliability, and financial stability for our system,” said WMATA Board of Directors Chairman Mort Downey. “Paul brings to Metro a depth of transportation knowledge and regional experience and we are absolutely united in our support for him. The Board will continue in our governance and oversight role in a manner that helps Paul succeed in running the day-to-day operations of Metro to better serve our riders, rebuild faith in management, and restore credibility with stakeholders.”

Mr. Wiedefeld, age 60, brings to Metro 30 years of public and private sector transportation management experience, formerly serving as CEO of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where he managed the operations of an airport that served a (then) record 22.7 million passengers in CY 2012. During his prior service as BWI CEO, Mr. Wiedefeld oversaw the largest expansion in the Airport’s history including the design and construction of a 26-gate terminal for Southwest airlines; as well as providing air service, customer service, and increasing airport revenues. He is credited with leading BWI’s growth as the busiest passenger airport in the Washington metropolitan region. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

“Dear PoPville,

As I wait here on the platforms to U st to go into the city, two northbound trains have passed me, and I’m sure a third will come before at least one southbound train comes. This is literally the norm now, not some delay, or construction, or anything else. This appears retaliated to intentional scheduling.

And I’m sure once I get on the train, it will stop for several minutes outside of Mt Vernon to allow several trains to switch tracks and get in front.

My question, is it accurate that this is intentional, and not part of some unforeseen delay? If intentional…..WHY??? Dear god why?”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab

You can spot John on the Red Line commuting between Brookland and Bethesda. “MetroHaikuDC‘s daily transit musings are brightening DC’s metro tunnels, 17 syllables at a time. I started writing a haiku a day on my 40 minute daily train ride to and from work. It passes the time and keeps things lighthearted in some of the metro’s darkest times.”

Please enjoy Nosy Neighbor this week:

I can see you there
Reading what I’m writing down
Hello seat neighbor