Metro Train Loses Part Near L'Enfant Plaza Station Tuesday Morning
UPDATE: Wednesday morning, Metro conducted a post-incident review of Tuesday's emergency evacuation of riders and held an investigation of a mechanical failure.
While the root cause of the loss of the friction ring from Blue Line train #406 has not yet been determined, Metro officials have further identified that the loss of the friction ring is related to a potential hub failure- a part of the brake assembly that holds the friction ring in place. The cause of the possible hub failure remains under review.
Metro will also focus on improving customer communications to passengers aboard standing trains and to others before they arrive at the impacted stations, as well as those traveling throughout the system. Metro says they will also work on radio communications that are challenging in certain underground locations.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA)--Some terrifying moments for Metro passengers
aboard the blue and orange line trains near L'Enfant Plaza.
Metro officials say part of the brake assembly broke free from a blue line train, striking the third rail and causing a three hour disruption. Operations resumed just before 2 pm Tuesday.
Metro's general manager has ordered the immediate inspection of the brake assembly on 200 similar trains, and launched an investigation into what caused the part to break free and why some passengers were stranded on trains for 30 minutes with no word about what was going on.
"I can't talk," said Lachristie Pope, wiping away tears.
She showed raw emotion after her ordeal aboard a Metro train.
"We saw this man, he was running through the doors, saying the trains on fire. I panicked. Everyone was running, trying to get out," said Pope.
Passengers say the trouble began when the train pulled away from the L'Enfant Plaza station.
"As we got into the tunnel, there were two explosions. Shortly apart. Very loud. Very violent. They shook the train. The train began to fill with smoke," said an unidentified passenger.
"Well, of course, we all think about September 11th. You think about your family, you think about your kids and you know God's with you," said a woman, her voice breaking.
Added the male passenger, "There was another boom and this time I could see a bright light, flames coming from underneath the next to the last car, like a fireball. And as the car went by, there was a visible trail of smoke going into the tunnel."
Cars filled with smoke. Some passengers say they prayed, with strangers .
"There was smoke everywhere," recalled Pope, who said she thought she was going to die.
Firefighters raced into the station to evacuate about 300 passengers, leading them along the tracks and out at the Smithsonian station, onto shuttle busses and into the arms of loved ones.
"He's the one I wanted to see. Just want to hold all my babies tonight and be grateful," said a female passenger.
Metro promised a thorough investigation.
"That will include look at materials, design, examining maintenance records and wayside conditions," said Richard Sarles, Metro's General Manager.
Not only did passengers complain about a profound lack of communication by Metro employees, some said they had to pay fares upon exiting the Smithsonian station.