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.
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.
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)
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. #wmatatransit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.…
Metro's daily media briefing regarding the grounding of over half its rail fleet now fits in a tweet
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
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)
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
#WMATA radio transmissions do appear to suggest that damage to Metro power infrastructure may have been intentional, and is what's causing this service suspension. Few details available yet as to power restoration timeline.
#WMATA offloaded Red Line train 114 due to a propulsion issue. The train is now being "Proceeded" - that is, a lookout in the lead car is radioing back to someone further back in the train so the train can move - in order to get it back to a rail yard.
Delays, both directions.
The #WMATA ROCC appears to have found a clever way to route around the disabled train just outside Grosvenor. Inbound trains are traversing via the pocket track; outbound is unaffected.
#WMATA has posted its FY22 Q3 financial report, dated May 13, 2022. It was posted on July 29, 2022. This period covers January-March, 2022.
Among other derailment investigation cascading effects: #WMATA has overhauled fewer of its older 2000/3000-series railcars with new components because they're needed for service.
As of March 2022, 82 of 182 6000-series railcars were potentially available for service.