Unsuck DC Metro: Metro Tight Lipped about Orange Line Slowdown

Monday, August 16, 2010

Metro Tight Lipped about Orange Line Slowdown

Many readers have asked why there is a severe speed restriction between East Falls Church and West Falls Church in the Vienna direction.

From Angelyne:

Why are westbound trains running at very slow speeds between East Falls Church and West Falls Church during evening rush hours? Eastbound trains seem to be running at normal speeds but westbound trains seem to be going less than 25 mph and sometimes stop briefly.

From CS:

"[The restriction] has been on for at least a couple of weeks now. I asked a couple of Metro people, but predictably, couldn't get a straight answer. One said it was because of "dangerous" conditions. The other said he suspected it was related to the Silver Line construction. Train operators have, of course, been useless in explaining the reason. But it's a lengthy section -- about 3,000 feet, one operator said -- and it really slows down the ride even more. I'm not aware that Metro has said anything about this, but they should."

Here's what Metro said:

"There are speed restrictions in the area for maintenance."

None of the readers who've noted this slowdown have seen any sign of any sort of work being done at all.

According to Dr. Gridlock, "There wouldn't be any track work there during the evening rush. And there haven't been any slowdowns for track circuit monitoring out that way in a while."

From CS:

"When I came home Aug. 13, the zone had been extended to begin right after leaving EFC. That hadn't been true before. And the inbound trains are now also running slowly; that wasn't true before, either. And, as I mentioned, there's no obvious signs of work. And even if they do something major, like replace ties, the speed restriction is usually only for a few days.

I think something else is up. I wonder if it's not some total failure of the track circuit for that area, so they're reduced to absolutely minimal speed."

Other items:
Sarles outlines safety measures (WaPo)
Falls Church ends George bus service (WaPo)

Comments (23)

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@poptdc · 762 weeks ago

There has been a similar slow-down on the Red Line just north of Rhode Island Station for at least 2 months now in both directions. No word on that one either. I assume there's something wrong with the cross-over switch.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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GlenmontGirl · 762 weeks ago

It pretty much covers the whole area from New York Avenue to Takoma, in both directions. Part of this area is that weird section of track around Brookland that is at an angle, so the train literally tilts. I always wondered if the slowdown (which is particularly bad in that section) had something to do with the track being so uneven.

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anon · 762 weeks ago

I noticed the same thing in the Rosslyn Tunnel. Every since the crash in Silverspring, MD they slow down halfway in the tunnel. The operators don't trust the track circuits and they are doing it to save their lives. The same circuit problem with Sillver Spring is in Rosslyn (there was a press release about a near crash in 2005) is probably in other parts of the metro system .

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Pete · 762 weeks ago

Before Blue/Orange line trains slowed down in the tunnel the noise was ear splitting. This was during the summer of 2009 and I don't believe the slowdown has anything to do with the Red line crash. The noise was so loud lots of people covered their ears. It lasted about 30 seconds. I think that's why. Also, last winter over President's day weekend they were supposed to replace a bunch of track in that tunnel -- maybe thats why they are still going slow.

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John Doe · 762 weeks ago

There were a lot of crews out working on this section of the orange line Sunday. Lots of machinery maybe 10-12 workmen.

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Dragon of Life · 762 weeks ago

And then they wonder why they have absolutely no creditability with their riders.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Booster · 762 weeks ago

The operators don't even bother saying anything at this point. Combined with the usual door problems or "schedule adjustments", It's gotten to where I have to practically run from work to Gallery Place, or risk missing my bus home and having to wait another 20-30 mins.

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anon · 762 weeks ago

Today it seemed a little better, maybe because people started asking questions? This highlights that the problem isn't the trains slowing down if there is a genuine reason for it, such as work on the Dulles line. The problem is that Metro won't just say "we are working on the track so trains will be moving slowly, allot an extra four minutes to get from EFC to WFC for the next two weeks." I know four minutes is not a big deal, but for me it makes me miss the bus and then have to wait 15-20 minutes for the next one.

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Godsend Conspirator · 762 weeks ago

the track between WFC and EFC is a unicorn crossing. before the slow-down, those poor unicorns were being SMASHED by the super speedy metro trains. now they are free to prance about in the lovely gravel, the same way they did thousands of years ago.

if you don't like unicorns, GTFO of NOVA!

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Mark L · 762 weeks ago

Why isn't the media covering the Massive car break-ins' last Friday at New Carrollton? 25+ Cars broken into, glass all over the place and LOTS of missing property. WHERE WAS METRO?? They need to fire one administrator a day until things improve.

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anonymous · 762 weeks ago

Last week I was on a train leaving WFC heading to EFC and the operator told us that there was a speed restriction of 15 mph in place between these two stops due to track issues. It was pretty vague, but still more information than we normally get.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Meredith · 761 weeks ago

Possibly the same train, but we heard the same thing. It was one of the drivers who frequently provides us with more information than other drivers, and if that was all the info we got, I think it was all that he had to give us.

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Mark L · 762 weeks ago

Metro is still hiding the lousy quality of their work. Perhaps give any rider a free 1 month pass on Metro if they get video of the Metro employees screwing off? Who does this help? Finally the customers and NOT the slacker union thugs.

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Matthew · 762 weeks ago

Another random slow down is on the yellow between Pentago and L'enfant. It happens right after the switch leaving Pentagon.

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Anonymous · 762 weeks ago

I was on the westbound orange line at about 8pm Saturday night and not only experienced this slowdown (with no announcment as to why) between EFC and WFC, but I also noticed that as we left the East Falls Church station, the train tilted to one side rather drastically (I no longer remember if it was left or right). It got there gradually, but the angle that it tilted at was rather extreme.

I was standing and had to tightly grip the vertical pole to avoid sliding into the door. What was strange was the extreme angle that we were at, and the fact that we STAYED at this sideways angle for sometime - 1-3 minutes I would say.

I don't remember experiencing this on other west bound orange line trips. Does anyone know what this might have been (and FWIW, I don't drink or do drugs, nor am I on any medications, nor do I have any equilibrium problems).

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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sapphie · 762 weeks ago

that happened to me on Friday night at about 7:00 on the way to vienna!

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GlenmontGirl · 762 weeks ago

I mentioned this in an above comment, but the Red Line does the same thing on the tracks outside Brookland (I believe it is between Rhode Island Ave and Brookland, but I'm not 100% sure), and has done it for awhile. There's also a major slowdown during that section, and I have wondered for a long time whether there was something wrong with the tracks and that's why a) the train tips so oddly and b) the slowdown is in effect and shows no signs of improving.

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R Andrew Stevens · 762 weeks ago

Only 1 of 3 escalators working at Foggy bottom (6:40pm). I thought that Metro said 2 of 3 would be working today? Not that they have any credibility...

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Guest · 762 weeks ago

Maybe that's what the problem is. The people who are supposed to be working on escalators are the ones that are causing the problems at these two Metro stations as well; workers can't be found for either project!

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Matt G · 762 weeks ago

I was told that track inspectors found a few weak joints on that section of track that need to be repaired first before the trains can go full speed through that area.

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@hostagehoosier · 762 weeks ago

I love when I can see my bus leaving from WFC because we have been going so slow from EFC to WFC. If they would drive at their normal speed, I could totally catch my bus, but instead I get to see it drive away and I get to wait another half hour. lame lame lame.

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John · 762 weeks ago

Last night, WMATA work crews were working on this section of the track after midnight as they have been doing for the past several days. No idea what they are working on though.

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Ben · 732 weeks ago

It has nothing to do with maintenance or spacing of trains. There is something wrong with the track there and drivers are afraid to go fast. There may be a kink in the tracks or an electrical fault that actually cause malfunction, since trains seem to stop and start there. It's been a problem for over a year now.