Metro said that it is temporarily sidelining its fleet of 6000-series railcars, after passengers got stuck on a Metro Red Line train when cars became separated in a tunnel near the Glenmont Station Tuesday.
The move was recommended by the transit agency’s chief safety officer and approved by General Manager Paul Wiedefeld.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission said in a statement that it supports the removal of the series “until investigators can fully understand the underlying causes of and contributing factors to this train separation.”
Metro started removing the cars shortly after 2:30 p.m. and said that it will take several hours to complete. All cars are expected to be removed Tuesday night. The order will remain in place for an indefinite period while an investigation takes place.
Metro will use its remaining in-service fleets — the 2000/3000-series legacy cars and newer 7000-series cars — in the mean time.
” … 7000-series cars comprise more than half of Metro’s railcar fleet, and the impact to customers of today’s safety action is expected to be minimal,” Metro said in a statement.
Tuesday’s car separation happened around 1 p.m., and 12 passengers were evacuated off the train. All passengers were evaluated, and one, with a medical condition, was taken to the hospital with a nonlife threatening condition.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer said there was no fire, smoke or serious injuries, and that the incident happened less than 100 yards from the station.
Update — Glenmont Metro Station, Georgia Avenue, train headed from Wheaton to Glenmont separated/the couple at interlocking area near Glenmont Station, @MCFRS_EMIHS evaluated 12 passengers & transported 1 adult (medical) NLT, passengers on train were evacuated https://t.co/dJhUXzFNUh pic.twitter.com/fYVvZ3KiJP
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2020
Metro has suspended service between Glenmont and Forest Glen. Shuttle buses are available for affected customers.
Metro said it ordered the removal of the 6000-series due to similarities between Tuesday’s incident and another a separation that happened last October between two cars of a Red Line train outside Union Station.
While the investigation is still ongoing into the October separation, Metro said that the cars separated at the train’s coupler — a large latch at the end of each railcar that securely connects it to adjoining cars.
A train operate who investigated Tuesday’s incident found that first and last four cars had separated from each other.
Metro said that the train’s emergency brake, designed to engage in the event that cars separate, worked as intended, and the incident was reported to the Rail Operations Control Center, which requested an emergency response.
“The 6000-series fleet entered service in 2006 with 184 cars delivered over the subsequent three years. The fleet is approaching ‘mid life,’ the 20-year milestone where railcars are put through a comprehensive overhaul. Railcars typically provide passenger service over a 40-year life span, assuming a midlife overhaul is conducted,” Metro said in a news release.
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