Thread by @MetroReasons

Thread: this will be a new thread 3 for week three of the ongoing Blue line derailment and 7000-series grounding events.

You can catch threads 1 and 2 here:
#WMATA

#wmata

#WMATA thread:

The WMSC answers why #wmata pulled the 7000's so late on a Sunday: inspections, still ongoing, were revealing more and more wheelset issues, apparently prompting the decision.

#wmata

Thread from today's #wmata 7000-series media presser:

#WMATA says there will be two more weeks of 30-40 min headways. They're attempting to get more trains out but it's slow going.

With advertised 30min headways on all lines but 15 in Red, adding in more filler trains should mean actual waits aren't always that high, but unscheduled gap trains also won't show up in the #wmata GTFS schedule data.

We're in phase 1A:
#wmata

It may not be available in real time, but here's an example of #wmata using train crowding data for analysis where and when to run gap trains.

I don't know Adam's source(s) for this and the other tweets from 2017, but this fleet-wide check predates the wheelset inspection event at the manufacturer which I noted in my story last week (ggwash.org/view/82871/the…) by just one month. #wmata

The FTA wants *all* rail transit systems across the US to inspect their axles to look for and report out-of-tolerance measurements. They say this is a result of the #wmata Blue line derailment. (Order not yet published in Federal Register)

h/t @sandypsj
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-23721.pdf

The action being required by the FTA is for each State Safety Oversight Agency (i.e. WMSC) to report some inspection data from the past year of the system(s) they oversee, but they also recommend each conducts a fleet-wide wheel gauge inspection. #wmata transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.…

Metro's daily media briefing regarding the grounding of over half its rail fleet now fits in a tweet

#wmata

These are *approximate* numbers of #wmata railcars available for service and minimum number of railcars needed to run service at the current Phase 1A headways (and 1B and II phases)
If you have more updated + accurate #'s, please let me know!

Slight service improvements for Silver and Green line riders beginner guide Monday:
* Silver line trains return to Largo
* Green line trains run every 20

#wmata

All's quiet on the #wmata rail front so far today. Red line trains are coming every 15, Green every 20, and all others every ~30.

#wmata

Metro spox Sherri Ly yesterday said the agency had 40 trains in service - 36 for revenue service, 4 as spare trains to fill in as others break down - so they're down 3 today. #wmata

Some details from #wmata press briefing:
* 90% trains y/day arrived w/o 10min of scheduled arrival
* Working w/WMSC on draft 7K restoration plan
* "No timeframe" how long 7K testing/restoration might take
* 37 trains available for service today; 36 in revenue, 1 gap

* Ly noted it's deer szn; trains get taken out of service if they hit one
* Fleet-wide inspections not uncommon, treated as a maintenance matter; safety issues would be escalated
* ~1/2 riders back since pre-pandemic but taking fewer trips (4>2/wk)

#wmata

#wmata

Interesting to note that #WMATA, in order to get 2/3Ks out of Shady Grove Yard and 7Ks put in, is restoring 3rd rail electricity to transport those cars under their own power rather than pushing/pulling them with diesel maintenance vehicles.

#wmata has at least 2 non-revenue trains heading outbound to Shady Grove Yard, with likely more to come. These 7Ks are being put into the yard for storage (given the derailment investigation) and swapped for 2/3Ks which the agency wants to put into service.

Non-revenue 8-car 7000-series train #2 has left Brentwood Yard, en route to Shady Grove Yard for storage. #wmata is swapping where railcars are to try and get more out to run more service for riders.

Non-revenue train 820 is the first legacy (2/3/6K) train to leave Shady Grove Yard en route to Brentwood Yard for overnight checks. If there are no issues with the cars in this train, it can be put to use carrying passengers tomorrow. #wmata

Here's the letter from #wmata Chief Safety Officer to the WMSC from the submission of Metro's testing plan to gather data regarding the wheel/axle gauge issue. Once data is gathered, #wmata then still needs to determine a path to restoring 7Ks to service.

A few things going on here:
* WMSC grounded 7Ks in Oct.
* #wmata submitting testing plan to determine how often 7K axles need inspecting
* They think that period is 8 days
* Testing will in/validate that theory
* Data will drive new inspection policies

I can't speak definitively, but:
* People I've spoken w/question accuracy of back-to-back measurements
* #wmata COO: hiring outside consultant to oversee measurements once 7Ks back in service
* Metro basing WMSC testing plan only on NTSB-led inspections

Per this report, the rest of the 32 2/3K railcars have left Shady Grove Yard so they can be placed into service to help fill the gap caused by the 7K railcars being grounded. The first two trains left the yard last night ~10-11pm. #wmata

"Following additional revisions"

#wmata