Metro Center Crash Disrupts Silver, Orange
- A crash at Metro Center this morning halted train traffic and created major delays on downtown lines. - Disruption primarily affected Silver and Orange Line service, forcing single-tracking, station closures, and long commuter backups. - WMATA crews responded and advised riders to expect extended delays during rush hour, with investigations ongoing (patch.com).
A WMATA work vehicle struck a stopped Silver Line train at Metro Center just after midnight on April 22, injuring 11 people and disrupting service for hours. (wtop.com) Metro officials said the train was holding in the station when the work vehicle hit its rear car shortly after the end of service. There were 27 riders onboard, and officials said the reported injuries were minor. (wjla.com) By Wednesday morning, Orange and Blue line trains were single-tracking between McPherson Square and Smithsonian, while Silver Line trains ran only between Ashburn and Clarendon. Metro Center reopened around 5:15 a.m., but delays continued into the commute. (wmata.com) (fox5dc.com) Metro Center is one of the system’s busiest transfer stations, serving the Red, Orange, Silver and Blue lines in downtown Washington. A disruption there can spread quickly across multiple corridors because trains and riders funnel through the same station. (wmata.com) The crash landed in the first rush hour after the overnight collision, turning what began as a late-night incident into a regionwide commute problem. WMATA told riders to expect significant delays in both directions while crews and investigators worked in the tunnel area. (wmata.com) The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and had investigators on scene around 2 a.m., according to local reports. WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke said there were no signs of terrorism or infrastructure failure, and that investigators would review communications and video. (wjla.com) (fox5dc.com) Service on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines returned to normal around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, nearly 17 hours after the collision. Clarke apologized to riders and said Metro would learn from the investigation as the agency works to determine what went wrong. (wtop.com) (wjla.com)
