Construction equipment derailed outside the Potomac Yard station in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday morning, spurring delays for rail commuters, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority said.
The work vehicle has been moved, and Blue and Blue Plus line trains are no longer single tracking, WMATA said. Residual delays are possible after the disabled vehicle disrupted service between Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
No injuries were reported. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said it took time to put the truck back on the tracks.
The incident was originally reported as a derailment without specifying the involvement of only work equipment, causing some alarm for Metro riders. Clarke criticized the initial communication about the incident.
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The derailment did not involve any passenger trains and was not connected to construction on the Potomac Yard station, which isn't set to open to commuters until May, WMATA and Clarke said.
The derailment occurred near a work area along the shut down area of the Yellow Line bridge, WMATA said. Yellow Line service has been suspended since September due to the extensive construction work.
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Overnight crews were completing work near the construction site when a work vehicle slipped off the tracks, WMATA said.
"A heavy rail work vehicle derailed while heading back to the yard this morning," WMATA said.
Efforts to fix the situation led to speed restrictions and trains single-tracking in both directions between Braddock Road and National Airport.
Before 6 a.m. Tuesday, Metro announced a derailment without information about what sort of vehicle left the tracks.
"In trying to be transparent our initial comms could have been clearer," Clarke said.
Safety Commission Set to Meet
The derailment comes as The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) prepares to hold a virtual meeting Tuesday.
The public is set to get an update on several topics including the future of Metro's 7000 series rail cars. In February, Metro announced it would allocate about $55 million dollars to repress the wheels on those cars over three years.
The safety commission will also give an update on Metro's rail operators' certifications.
Earlier this year, a safety commission spokesperson said Metro "deliberately ignored" safety requirements with its train operators.
Equipment Derailed Near Yellow Line Worksite
Metro shared a photo showing a yellow work vehicle. A wheel was seen resting near the track. Crews are working to get it back on the tracks, WMATA said.
The flatbed vehicle is able to travel on roads and Metrorail tracks and is used to transport equipment to the worksite, WMATA said.
News4 toured the Yellow Line construction site last week, going down 85 feet to see the work inside the tunnel.
Crews had placed a new support system on the Yellow Line bridge which runs over the Potomac River, News4's Adam Tuss reported.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
