Metro’s Red Line was back to business as usual Thursday morning after a small track fire stalled the morning rush hour.
The fire broke out around 7:15 a.m. at The District’s Metro Center station, the transit authority reported. Though the fire was quashed, trains were forced to share one track between Judiciary Square and Dupont Circle to keep things moving (or not). Trains were back on both tracks by 8:20 a.m.
At some point, free shuttle buses were used to schlep commuters between Farragut North, Gallery Place-Chinatown and Metro Center. But riders still ran into big delays. After all, it was rush hour, and a bus can carry just 50 pissed-off riders. Compare that with the 800 people who can fill a Metro train, the transit authority said.
The Metro Center station also serves the Orange and Blue Lines. It’s unclear if those lines were messed up by the incident.
Lead photos courtesy of Flickr user Petit Hiboux.
Updated Aug 14, 2008, at 10:40 a.m.
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Unreliable service from Metro?
Hey, at least it’s expensive!
That cute photo of the panda waiting for the Metro train got me thinking. You should sponsor a photo contest where each submission is of a Silver Spring landmark/icon/place and has a stuffed penguin in it somewhere.
at least the SS Metro station manager had the sense to post a warning sign, “Major Delays. Do Not Enter If You Don’t Want to Pay Fare to Leave” at the entrance gates. That gave you a chance to turn around and catch a bus into town. Or just decide to go back home. Without the warning you would enter, go up to the platform, see the situation is hopeless AND have to pay the minimum far to exit. It has happened to me during other serious delays. The warning sign was very helpful.
I have more delays on metro then my co-workers who drive to work.
Yes, there are sometimes delays on Metro. Of course, there are ALWAYS delays in the traffic patterns, which is why I normally take Metro to work instead of driving. Standing on a platform awaiting a train isn’t pleasant, but it sure beats sitting behind the wheel of my car, burning gas and tromping on the brakes every 30 seconds.
Track fires are scary, though. I do hope this doesn’t happen again soon!