Not exactly but I’m definitely filing this under “laugh or cry”. Thanks to a reader for sending.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of October 9-11 with service adjustments beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.
Highlights:
Three stations will be closed this weekend: Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church.
Silver Line trains will replace Orange Line service this weekend with all Silver Line trains running between Wiehle-Reston East and New Carrollton every 8 minutes during daytime hours.
Riders traveling to/from Orange Line stations should board a Silver Line train to make their trip.
Riders traveling to/from Blue/Silver stations between Largo Town Center and Benning Road should use only Blue Line trains.
Red, Blue, Green and Yellow lines are on regular weekend schedules.
Early Opening Sunday morning for the for Army Ten-Miler
Metrorail will open two hours early, at 5 a.m., on Sunday, October 11, for riders traveling to the Army Ten-Miler. The closest Metro stop to the start of the race is Pentagon on the Blue and Yellow lines.
Columbus Day service information
On Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. Trains will operate at Saturday service intervals (every 6 to 12 minutes during daytime hours). Off-peak fares will be in effect all day and parking will be free at all Metrorail parking facilities.”
Sylvia sends the photo above around 5:15pm:
“unbelievable scene at l’enfant plaza metro staff hysterical announcements [mostly garbled except for ‘watch your legs!’]”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Clif Burns
A reader reports Saturday night from the U Street metro station:
“I was just waiting for a train around 6 when a fight broke out and one of the guys was thrown on the tracks. He got up and it looked like WMATA delayed the train to make sure it was clear. No one seemed to do anything other than clean up the blood. It looks like both guys ran out the 10th St exit.”
Sadly seems like just another Saturday Night in the District these days.
UPDATE from WMATA:
“I wanted to let you know that there was more going on than just cleaning. MTPD took the suspect involved in this incident into custody in the area of Sherman Ave and Euclid St NW. He was transported back to U Street Station where he was positively identified by the victim. Arrested, charged with simple assault. Both parties involved in the fight were checked by medics — neither required transport.
Suspect is 20yo male, resident of NW DC.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of October 2-4 with service adjustments on five of six lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.
This weekend, Red & Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 20 minutes.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of September 25-27 with service adjustments on five of six lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.
This weekend, Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 24 minutes. Red Line trains will operate every 10-20 minutes with additional trains between Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering
From WMATA:
“Metro today announced a temporary service change to help ease delays and “stop and go” train rides for Orange, Blue and Silver line customers whose trips have been impacted by operating restrictions following Monday’s transformer fire outside Stadium-Armory Station.
During rush hours, Orange and Silver line trains will run every 8 minutes, rather than every 6 minutes, to reduce the number of trains in service at any one time. The move is intended to create more time and distance between trains and prevent them from bunching up in the area of Stadium-Armory, where operating restrictions are in place due to lower electrical capacity.
The fire knocked offline a 9-megawatt power substation that converts commercial power to 750 volts of D/C electricity that is used to run trains via the third rail.
Metro is currently “feeding” power to the area of Stadium-Armory from smaller substations farther away and that are already at their output capacity. To avoid overloading the system, Metro must reduce train speeds and limit the number of trains passing through the Stadium-Armory area to one train at a time on each track. This, in turn, has caused stop-and-go travel conditions for many riders, especially during rush hours this week.
Metro plans to increase the number of 8-car trains on the Orange and Silver lines during this time by using cars made available by the reduced number of trains in service.
Metro’s power and engineering departments are working to rebuild the damaged power substation and replace equipment on an expedited basis – a process that will take months. Metro will provide updates on the repair process as additional information is known.”
Update:
“Power has been restored in the Metro stations which had been affected by a power outage. Yellow Line and Green Line service have now been fully restored.”
“GR/YL (1/2): Preliminary investigation: Problem appears to be related to a “remote terminal unit” that failed IAO Georgia Ave Sta. #wmata”
“GR/YL (2/2): RTUs allow ROCC to remotely control various systems, incl power. Personnel will remain on scene to ensure reliability #wmata”
“Green/Yellow: Train service has been fully restored following earlier power loss. Columbia Heights & Georgia Ave stations reopening.” Read More
Photo by PoPville flickr user Elvert Barnes
From WMATA:
“Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015
Hours: Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight.
Fares: Normal weekday fare policies in effect.
All Metrorail stations will be open; however, selected station entrances may be closed due to security needs.
Regular rush hour train service during the AM and PM commute.
Additional train service during midday and late evening hours. There will be no scheduled track work on any rail line, and trains will run at near rush-hour service levels during midday and late evening hours to provide additional capacity for riders. Riders should note that it is not possible to add trains or cars during rush hours, as every available car is already being used for service. As a result, the system is expected to be extremely crowded during the traditional rush hour periods
Metrobus will operate on a regular weekday schedule, including all DC public school trips. Riders should expect detours and delays on all routes serving Downtown DC.
MetroAccess will operate on a regular schedule with detours, delays and service adjustments as a result of Papal events and associated road closures. MetroAccess customers should allow extra time due to increased traffic if traveling during the Papal visit. Door-to-door service may be limited near Papal events. To cancel a non-essential trip, call 301-562-5360 or visit wmata.com/metroaccess. For updated service information, sign up for MetroAlerts email and text messages at wmata.com/metroalerts.
Brookland Station
To support the expected 25,000 guests arriving for Mass at the Basilica on Wednesday afternoon, Brookland Station may be designated “exit only” prior to the event and “entry only” following the event (exact times TBD)
Due to capacity issues at Brookland Station, riders may wish to consider using two adjacent stations: Rhode Island Avenue and Fort Totten. Rhode Island Avenue is about a 1 mile (20 minute) walk to Brookland; Fort Totten is about 2 miles (35 minutes) away. DC Circulator will offer limited bus service between the stations and the event (fare $1 each way).
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015
Hours: Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight.
Fares: Normal weekday fares in effect.
Parking: Regular rates apply at all Metro-operated facilities.
Stations: All Metrorail stations will be open; however, selected station entrances may be closed due to security needs.
Regular rush hour train service during the AM and PM commute.
Additional train service during midday hours. There will be no scheduled track work on any rail line, and trains will run at near rush-hour service levels during midday hours to provide additional capacity for riders. Riders should note that it is not possible to add trains or cars during rush hours, as every available car is already being used for service. As a result, the system is expected to be extremely crowded during the traditional rush hour periods.
Metrobus will operate on a regular weekday schedule, including all DC public school trips. Expect detours and delays on all routes that travel near the U.S. Capitol (morning event) and Gallery Place (afternoon event).”
and
“In honor of the Papal visit, Metro will offer a limited-edition SmarTrip® commemorative sleeve to anyone purchasing a SmarTrip® card at Metro Sales Offices starting Monday. The protective sleeve features a prominent picture of Pope Francis, marking his three-day visit to Washington, D.C. Tuesday, September 22, through Thursday, September 24.”
Ed. Note on the sleeve – weak!!!
Thanks to Victoria for sending what was mentioned in this morning’s rant/revel:
“Papal parking restrictions. Irving St. And Columbia road NW between 14th and Sherman Ave.”
Update from WMATA:
“Metro has restored rail service on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines in the area of Stadium-Armory following a transformer fire this morning at a Metro power substation near Stadium-Armory Station. Trains on the three affected lines are now operating on their normal routes (Orange Line between Vienna and New Carrollton, Blue Line between Franconia-Springfield and Largo, Silver Line between Wiehle-Reston and Largo). Riders may experience residual delays as service ramps up to rush-hour service levels. Stadium-Armory Station has reopened.
The restoration of service follows the successful reconfiguration of power to “feed” electricity to the area of Stadium-Armory from the adjacent substations, located at Potomac Avenue and Deanwood. The power substation at Stadium-Armory remains offline. Until normal power conditions are restored, trains will operate at lower speeds through the area to reduce power draw.
There were no injuries as a result of the fire. The cause remains under investigation.”
From WMATA:
“As of 3 p.m., Metro crews are working to restore rail service on a portion of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines following a fire this morning at a power substation in the area of Stadium-Armory.
Train service was suspended following a report of smoke from the substation, located in the parking lot of RFK Stadium, that provides third-rail power to a section of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. All trains were moved out of the area, and there were no injuries.
The source of the smoke was determined to be a fire involving one of three transformers within the substation that converts commercial electricity from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) for use by trains. Two other transformers at the facility appear to be unaffected; however, a full assessment will be made to determine any damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Currently, Metro personnel are reconfiguring power to “feed” electricity from two adjacent power substations — one at Potomac Avenue and one at Deanwood. Once the reconfuration is completed this evening, train service will be able to be restored. Trains will likely be required to operate at reduced speed through the area to minimize power draw.
Service Information
Metro is advising riders on the Orange, Blue and Silver line of service impacts that will likely affect this evening’s commute. Service is operating as follows:
• Orange Line: Trains are operating between Eastern Market and Vienna and between New Carrollton and Minnesota Avenue. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Buses are replacing trains between Minnesota Avenue and Eastern Market, making all intermediate station stops.
• Blue Line: Trains are operating between Eastern Market and Franconia-Springfield and between Largo Town Center and Benning Road. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Buses are replacing trains between Benning Road and Eastern Market, making all intermediate station stops.
• Silver Line: Trains are operating only between Wiehle-Reston East and East Falls Church. Trains will run about every 8 minutes. Riders traveling outbound to Virginia from DC should use an Orange Line train and transfer at East Falls Church to continue their trip.
• Yellow, Green and Red line service is unaffected by this disruption.”
