Unsuck DC Metro: A.M. Commute Open Thread

Monday, March 21, 2011

A.M. Commute Open Thread

Via @ AbbySVU #ballston #wmata http://t.co/rm5eM5x the hell?

Via @bptracey The line to get on the metro at Gallery Place/Chinatown at 9am on a Monday #wmata http://yfrog.com/h3teyhm

Gallery Place Via Charlie

Via @mike_lock Lady just chillin on the floor during orange line rush hour this morning? @unsuckdcmetro #wmata http://twitpic.com/4bsoyd

Via Kristen: Taken in Crystal City this AM. Didn't know the Blue Line was servicing U St!! Metro...ftw!

Here's one story from the Red Line. The Orange and Blue were majorly Metro'ed up as well. Share your stories in the comments.

From Ashley:

Today was officially, undoubtedly the worst commute ever. I didn't get into the office until 9:27. I thought I'd be here by 8:45ish.

Get to the Red Line and see that I have a 2-minute wait. No problem. 20 minutes later a train has still not come.

The girl next to me mentions she's been there for 30 minutes.

Apparently they were single tracking because of "track issues," or at least that was the excuse of the day.

A train came, I didn't make it on.

The next train came, I got on.

Five minutes later, we were still sitting in the station, and then we had to offload because the doors won't close.

We were all losing our minds, thinking it couldn't get any worse.

Meanwhile, the platform became totally packed, so we couldn't get off because there was nowhere to go.

Eventually, we managed to get off, but the douche bags on the platform wouldn't step back for us, so basically we had to push through them and get behind them. They weren't giving up their place in line for the next train.

The next train came, and we didn't make it on.

The next train came, a 6-car train! Obviously, I didn't make it on.

The next one came, and I finally managed to get on. It was packed.

What felt like 16 years later, I got to Dupont and walked up the out-of-service escalator.

Good times.

Oh and I forgot the two ladies who got into a physical fight, and the woman with a baby who had a panic attack.

At one point I tried to give up and take a taxi, but I couldn't even get out because of the masses of people.

Comments (110)

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+16 Vote up Vote down

· 731 weeks ago

I'll be honest. I thought Metro had improved slightly over the past couple of months, but today's commute shows it was either in my head or metro had just been lucky.

THEY SUCK.

+12 Vote up Vote down

dalia · 731 weeks ago

looks like i dodge a bullet on this one. could you imagine if there was an emergency that required an evacuation? so many people would be trampled to death and/or electrocuted.

+9 Vote up Vote down

Ryan · 731 weeks ago

I was here for this, trying to transfer from the Green line to the Red line at Chinatown.

I've been riding the Metro for 8 years and have never seen a station this packed before. Not at a sporting event. Not at July 4. Never.

Two transit cops were the only ones directing the human traffic, but given the volumes they were dealing with, they couldn't really do much to fix the situation. I was packed into the thick of it... I wanted to just leave the station, but we were so tight, I couldn't get out. It was almost to the point that people on the upper platform couldn't move down to the lower one. I'm amazed nobody got pushed onto the tracks.

I tried called WMATA's general number to make them aware of the situation. Nobody picked up the phone. Metro's phone lines open at 8:30 and I called at 9, so there's a good chance nobody was in the office yet.

-1 Vote up Vote down

@SeattleSnowJKR · 731 weeks ago

will it kill anyone at WMATA to build express trackage than buy a brand new fleet of busses

9 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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F'n JD · 731 weeks ago

meanwhile metro is to spend $851 million dollars to do nothing about the most basic problem with the system...two tracks.

until a third track is built throughout the system, the system will continue to fail.

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Orange Line Rider · 731 weeks ago

Avoided most of the problems this morning, but I hear it was compounded by MANY trains unloading all over the Orange Line due to faulty doors and sick passengers. What a great way to start the week.

11 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Thrillhouse · 731 weeks ago

I was on a Red Line train going though Gallery Place/Chinatown right around 9. The train in front of mine was offloaded so the crowds were understandably huge. They were huge when I got off at Metro Center too.

Our operator had mentioned earlier that the train in front of us had a door problem when we were stopped before Judiciary Square, so I'm sure this contributed..

0 Vote up Vote down

@decindc · 731 weeks ago

WOW...I must have just missed all of this. I noticed the train stayed a little longer at Bethesda when I got off but didn't think much of it. Hope this isn't a repeat this afternoon!!

-17 Vote up Vote down

J. Jeter · 731 weeks ago

You all should be on your knees thanking every member of ATU 689 that you didn't die on your commute this morning.

6 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Pedro · 731 weeks ago

Orange line was also an unmitigated disaster this morning. At 8:15 AM at the EFC station the platform was packed, always a bad sign. The next train didn't come for 15 minutes. Of course is was completely full. I finally squeezed onto the third train around 8:45, but then we had to hold because the train in front of us offloaded at Ballston.

+9 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 731 weeks ago

Delays (caused by WMATA ineptness initially) will often compound causing other problems...like door malfunctions due to crowded conditions.

WMATA will try to blame door problems on you the customers, but if they ran trains on time to begin with, they would rarely have those problems.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+11 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 731 weeks ago

By the way, the person in the story above got to pay peak-of-the-peak pricing too!! Refund? I highly doubt it.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Ryan · 731 weeks ago

When are we, as customers, going to do anything about this? More importantly, is there anything we can do? In my mind, what happened this morning represented some sort of tipping point in my metro experience. Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I don't think so. Thoughts?

10 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+7 Vote up Vote down

@MidAtlanticBike · 731 weeks ago

I was caught in this too. Had to offload from a broken down Red Line train at Gallery Place. The platform was beyond 100% jammed. This was unsafe for all involved. I spotted a co-worker. Somehow we pushed through the solid mass of people, some of whom were panicking and others arguing, and got out onto G Street where we found a cab. We were late to work and of course had to pay Metro for this wonderful experience, as well as pay for the cab.

-6 Vote up Vote down

dcn8v · 731 weeks ago

I took the blue like out of L'Enfant at 6:50 and it held at the station for 7-8 minutes. The train operator told us that they would be single-tracking because there was smoke in the tunnels. My first thought was terrorism.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Laurence · 731 weeks ago

What we need in DC is something that can legitimately compete with Metro. Right now, Metro can screw us because most of us have 2 options --- Metro or drive; and driving is almost as costly and time consuming.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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TeamSheen · 731 weeks ago

Remove the doors on the trains... #duh #winning

Crowds on the platform? Carry on like a warlock... http://twitpic.com/4bmurw

+6 Vote up Vote down

Rick · 731 weeks ago

I am purchasing a car and unsucking myself from this expensive, inconvenient, unsettling experience. This morning's commute was the worst. The cost benefit doesn't add up.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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JoeyB · 731 weeks ago

My commute was hellish as well... on the orange line from New C to Farragut West....
The driver, annoyingly, but rather informatively had the feed from central control blasting over the speakers. so we had a wealth of information. It was funny hearing the public station "minor disruption" vs what we were hearing from control... we heard about the single tracking, the need for a track inspection, the need for a driver in a downstream train to relay some sort of information to his passengers because they were pushing the emergency button with no response..

for the most part the passengers in my car were trying to bear it though, but when the central control guy was like "train *something*, do you have a sick passenger that we need to attend to" we all said a collective four letter word of choice!

But the ride in town was horrendous... they need to figure out a way to make single tracking more bearable.. all the platforms were extremely crowded.

Side note, i did see two cops who rode from new C to landover, twitting, texting and not doing ****

6 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Ted Williams · 731 weeks ago

I commuted daily on Metro (Orange Line) to Foggy Bottom for years.

Since I changed jobs last year, I drive to work in Rosslyn. Haven't commuted on Metro for nearly a year.

Will never go back.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Terri · 731 weeks ago

I had one of the worst trips on metro to date today. I get on the blue line then transfer over to the red line at metro center but today was awful. The trip on blue line usually takes about 20mins but today it took 45mins to get to metro center. And all the train operator said was “track issues”. I was so happy to get off the Blue line I made my way upstairs to only see it was an even bigger delay on the red line. All together, on a normal day to get to work takes about 45min, today I was on the metro system for 1 hours and 30mins. Metro is such a waste of money.

+16 Vote up Vote down

gu-guest · 731 weeks ago

Seriously, I'm utterly amazed that one one has fallen off a platform during one of these wmata meltdowns. it's only a matter of time.

+10 Vote up Vote down

V_C · 731 weeks ago

Horrible...got to Vienna Metro Station at 8:40 am this morning. Train was on the platform, but it was packed. Decided to wait for another train. The current train did not leave for 10 minutes, and waited another 10 minutes for second train to arrive. This train didn't leave until 9:15 am, at which point it was already packed. Oh, and there were folks on that train who'd gotten on at West Falls Church - they said their station was so packed that this was the only way they could get on a train.

Train was miserably packed by Dunn Loring, and this is when it got ugly. Inconsiderate, rude passengers. Everyone out for themselves. The commute would have been more tolerable if riders were at least decent to one another.

Am disgusted with Metro and Metro riders!

+2 Vote up Vote down

@NoPants_McGee · 731 weeks ago

Happily, while I had some shenanigans getting to work this morning, nothing to the level that everyone here describes. After being told that our train would be coming in on the other side at Silver Spring, the Silver Spring-Grosvenor came in on the downtown side, offloaded its passengers and then took us on. Metro center was beyond crowded and they had trains going through on only one set of tracks for the blue/orange. Someone said they thought it was because of trackwork. Metro did have two employees telling people they couldn't take the train on that side.

I got on the first train going my way that went through, but just barely. People still weren't moving to the center of the cars. Of course.

+17 Vote up Vote down

dan · 731 weeks ago

Of course, by the time I got into work (9:30) after sitting on a train in L'Enfant for 30 minutes, WMATA's website happily proclaimed that there were no issues and no delays.

I guess I just imagined that entire experience; how bizzare.

Does Metro publish a statement? Does Metro apologize? Does Metro communicate?

No.

Privatize Metro. Fire their entire staff. Start from scratch.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+16 Vote up Vote down

Rider 77 · 731 weeks ago

Gee,

You would think that metro would have a system that would contact station managers when things like this were developing. That way, the station managers could hold people from coming through the turnstiles and moving onto dangerously overcrowded train platforms. As others have said, it is surprising that no one ended up being pushed off the platform. Where were the station managers at each of these locations?

Wait a minute, I fould a flaw or 2. To impliment this, it would mean metro having an effective communications system then having station managers who were capable of getting out of their booths and making some decisions on their feet....and then being able to communicate politely to customers what was going happening.

Imagine what will happen to riders one day when there really is a serious incident. When is metro going to look at hiring people who look at their paycheck as an entitlement and not something to be earned?

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+8 Vote up Vote down

Ever and Anon · 731 weeks ago

Yep, I was in it. Lucked out as I was at New Carr and they had already been announcing single tracking and serious delays. Got on the train, got a seat and sat for 10 minutes before we pulled out. Tootled along slow with the conductor repeatedly stating the single track problem, backed up trains and apologizing. Took 90+ minutes to get to Ballston. By then the train was packed and people were yelling to push in when nobody could push in further. Customers gettin real rude. Got off at Ballston just in time to see a train going to New Carr offload due to broken doors. The platform was already packed with people standing at the top landing. The crowd was so bad they stopped people coming down to the faregate entrance from the street level. Couldn't let anyone else in until it lightened up. Only good thing - the conductor of our train was very concise in his comments and said them politely. Kept us informed so we at least knew where the problem was. Didn't help but it was nice of him.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@DC_Chickie · 731 weeks ago

I was on the car of the train on the redline that had the door issues and offloaded at Gallery Place. The issues began and Judiciary and the conductor told passengers to assist by closing the door if they see it open. Our door seemed fine, but then a technician came through and fixed it at Judiciary. Then the issues began again at Gallery Place. I got off last and stood on the platform's edge because I couldn't go back any farther.

I decided to flash my life before me in case someone sneezed and I ended up on the tracks.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Samantha · 731 weeks ago

I was on the orange line train that offloaded at Ballston. I wrote a blog post about how much of a nightmare this experience was if anyone is interested.
http://mylifeonthemetro.blogspot.com

Cannot believe I got charged $5.10 for a commute that was twice as long as it normally is.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Rusty · 731 weeks ago

This is why I'm glad I get into work by 8am every day. It seems like 90% of the problems on the Metro in the morning happen between 8-9.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Pedro · 731 weeks ago

They need to treat metro like a major transportation system, and not a jobs program for Ward 8. The incompetence is staggering. The train conductors yell at the passengers, as if the overcrowding is our fault. Bastards.

6 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Guest · 731 weeks ago

What I find really sad is how we, the commuters, treat each other during times like this. We are mean, obnoxious, hateful and disrepectful. Why? Because I have to get to work. I think we can all learn from what is going on in Japan right now. Orderly lines of people waiting for help. I that was this country there would be riots, looters and fires. Chill out people, no matter how bad it was, and will be, we still have it beter than Japan right now.

+6 Vote up Vote down

jjjj1 · 731 weeks ago

Today's commute stunk all the way around. The larger problem is that If there were a serious issue (fire, some sort of attack, other emergency), we'd all be dead right now. Metro is too ill-equipped to handle any kind of emergency or small glitch in the system. A problem at one station should not bring down the entire system. You can't even have a worry-free ride on a short escalator down into the station.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Callie · 731 weeks ago

I think the problem of rude/obnoxious fellow commuters is caused by the increasing number of mornings like this. Commuters are battered and bruised by the constant breakdowns and so-called track issues. I too am amazed and thankful that no one was killed or injured today. However, how much more will commuters take until they snap? A "commuter action" may be in order. Maybe we need to march of Metro's headquarters and occupy the building until someone listens to us - hell no we won't go until someone's feet gets held to the fire. Or 3rd rail.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Matt · 731 weeks ago

Has anyone who has complained about the commute they had yesterday considering getting in to work earlier? I typically get on the train around 7 am at Grosvenor and rarely every experience delays that early. Most of the issues seem to arise in the 8 am - 9 am window. Just saying, even with single-tracking, the crowds are manageable that early and things tend to run more smoothly before the inevitable morning breakdowns happen.

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Kecia · 731 weeks ago

When is metro not one tracking, and then when it's not one tracking according to them, they are closing stations to due what they deem as maintence repairs, but you would think that this would be done during the course of the night when they are closed, not during holiday's. Everybody is not a federal or state employee, and as much as your office understands, the story still gets old, because it sounds and feels old to me.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Stef · 731 weeks ago

Recently, I've been in the habit of calling out poor metro behavior when I see it. Holding doors open, not moving to the center of the car, pushing, eating, spitting - I'm frigging tried of stupid people looking out for themselves and acting barbaric on public transport. In the last week I've called out 4 or 5 people (I guess thats one per day, wow!) for obvious "infractions".

The hilarious thing is that even though I try and say something to these people with the goal of keeping metro tolerably decent for myself and the other respectable people on metro, I get heckled by other by-standing commuters! Honestly people, make a decision! Do you want to bitch about the problems, or do you want to help fix them?

Stand behind your fellow commuters when bad behavior is called out, as there is strength in numbers. I know it wont stop all the problems, but its a start. Maybe I'm just being naive.