WASHINGTON — Metro plans to add seven more train sets Monday in an effort to improve service delays caused by the removal of all 748 of the 7000-series railcars two weeks ago. The 7000-series trains, which make up 60% of WMATA's fleet, were removed as part of an ongoing investigation into the derailment of a Blue Line train on Oct. 12.
The addition of the seven train sets will put 39 trains in service for the beginning of the week. Metro said this will allow them to extend Silver Line service to Largo Town Center instead of ending at Federal Center SW and improve Green Line service to every 20 minutes; previously, all lines except for Red Line were operating every 3-40 minutes.
From Nov. 1-15, service will operate as follows:
- Red Line Trains every 15-20 minutes
- Blue Line Orange Line Trains every 30-40 minutes.
- Silver Line Train every 30-40 minutes, with full service operating between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Town Center.
- Green Line Trains every 20 minutes.
- Yellow Line Trains every 30-40 minutes.
“Our rail maintenance crews are working hard to get more trains into service so that customers don’t have to wait as long to get where they need to go,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore more service in the coming weeks and continue to develop plans for inspections to return our 7000-series railcar fleet to service.”
On Thursday, WMATA Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader said the agency is also working to add back in older series of cars to help with delays.
“I would like to start by apologizing to our Metrorail riders, and inform them and the Board that all our resources are working to get all of our 2000, 3000 and 6000 series rail cars back in service," Leader said.
With the slower service, Metro is currently experiencing crowding -- something that is being targeted as they move through their planning phases of getting the rail cars back up and running. The addition of trains is meant to ease the crowding.
Metro has noted that the Red Line has the highest passenger load in the 5 p.m. hour between Metro Center and Judiciary Square. The Green Line sees its highest loads in 5 p.m. hour as well, between L’Enfant and Waterfront.