Cracked rails may not be uncommon in transit systems, but the one in the area where a train derailed Monday morning was unusual for Metro.
The crack happened in an area where rails don’t normally break.
“Historically, we have not had issues in this part of the line,” Metro GM and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said.
The crack was near the Farragut North Station on the Red Line, where underground rails are fairly protected from big temperature swings — a major contributing factor to cracked rails.
The crack started from the bottom of the rail — not the top — which is also unusual.
The rail had been inspected five days before the derailment.
This is called a “prime mover.” Metro will be using this to get the derailed train back on the tracks. It just showed up at Metro Center. #wmata @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/8JjVWjSD23
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) January 15, 2018
I asked the Assistant Fire Chief on the scene if communication was good and he said it was.
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) January 15, 2018
Scenes from inside the Metro derailment along the Red Line this am. H/t @lisadevlin39. Also shared with @unsuckdcmetro #wmata @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/IMaZDeDQNO
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) January 15, 2018
“The portion of the rail that we have is probably 10 feet,” Wiedefeld said. “We are rebuilding it because it shattered, in effect, in different places.”
The area was not part of Metro's SafeTrack maintenance project.
Local and federal investigators are working to determine what caused the train to derail.
Metro has experienced a positive trend in cracked rails in recent years. There were 13 in 2017, down from 31 in 2016 and 35 in 2015. There have been three in 2018.
Three cars of a train crashed off the tracks about 6:30 a.m. Monday, injuring no one but startling dozens. Sixty-three people walked the length of two football fields through a tunnel to exit at Metro Center. They were on the train about 90 minutes before the evacuation.
The evacuation was conducted with safety in mind, not speed, according to Metro.
BREAK: @nbcwashington obtains audio of Metro derailment along the Red Line. Listen as officials describe smoke and “loose rail” #wmata pic.twitter.com/qaVCM75tSS
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) January 15, 2018
Metro service was suspended in the area for hours Monday, and trains single-tracked in the area until about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
