Unsuck DC Metro: How Long Would You Wait Before 'Self-Evacuating?'

NoNo · 632 weeks ago

So there is no power/lights in the train, but passengers can't get out because there is power on the third rail... What kind of moronic idiot designed this metro?

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Matt G · 632 weeks ago

I would have FREAKED OUT.

@VeggieTart · 632 weeks ago

I would try to contact the operator and ask about evacuating, but I understand the intercom system is touch-and-go because of the incompatibility of different car types--which is because of bellying the shitty 1000 series cars.

This makes me so grateful I can ride the bus to work.

2 replies · active 632 weeks ago

BrianKal · 632 weeks ago

contact the operator? LOL. They either can't be reached or just as clueless as the rest of WMATA.

@VeggieTart · 632 weeks ago

I did say "try". And I know about the problems with the intercom caused by "bellying" the damn 1000 cars.

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C S · 632 weeks ago

What Metro doesn't seem to realize is that the fact people are willing to jump down onto the tracks is itself an indication of how little faith they have in the agency. It's not necessarily people "going rogue" -- it's just a calculation of the best way to get out. If people had any confidence in Metro, they'd stay put. But they don't. And for good reason. How many YEARS, for example, has Metro been pledging to improve communications with riders? And as last night shows, not a thing has changed.

4 replies · active 632 weeks ago

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 632 weeks ago

I put most of this at the feet of Metro's poor radios, which have been documented here again and again and again.

If Metro can't communicate internally, there's no way they can effectively pass along good information to riders.

One source told me today: "If you can't talk to each other, the next best option is to stay put. They are defaulting to the safest option, which is the most constrictive to the passengers."

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Guest · 632 weeks ago

Train drivers have 2 radios and can come out of the operating cab and give announcements and updates with the bull-horn that is located under the train seats. There are also light stick / lights under the seats for emergencies. But..... since these drivers are protected by their brothers and sisters in the union there will be no disciplinary actions or refresher train unless it was someone who is considered....[an outsider] .

An Outsider: Someone, male or female, who is not from Washington DC or South Carolina and has no family ties to other wmata employees and has no family ties to anyone who is an official in the Local 689 Union.

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BugOut · 632 weeks ago

Why you have to bring South Carolina into the equation? Leave my fellow South Carolinians out of this, lol!

Anony · 632 weeks ago

I find that almost daily on the orange and red lines I find the internal PA system malfunctioning to the point where you cannot understand the announcement. I always wonder what it will be like in an emergency. I wish a news organization would do an expose on this.

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Steve · 632 weeks ago

Glad to see the Green line got to enjoy some of the fun activities us Orange and Red liners have been enjoying this January!

1 reply · active 632 weeks ago

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@savemetro · 632 weeks ago

Sharing the love.

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gues · 632 weeks ago

get a car.

8 replies · active 632 weeks ago

Steve · 632 weeks ago

Yeah as much as everyone hates on metro, BUYING A CAR (unless you are getting a 1992 honda civic) is probably going to be a bit more expensive.

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@PaulZummo · 632 weeks ago

It's more expensive, and also worth every penny. My mental health from driving over taking Metro is worth the expense.

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Steve · 632 weeks ago

Totally agreed, if you can afford it and driving is faster/more reliable, its a great idea. However, if you live in the city/have nowhere to park/don't have a ton of $, you're kinda stuck with metro sometimes.

Heather · 632 weeks ago

Agreed, but sites like "Commuter Connections" can sometimes help, and also, slug lines where available, help with that. I am so glad to be moving to where I won't need to rely on Metro much, if at all, anymore. I hate, hate, HATE Metro.

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WMATA 4 LYFE · 632 weeks ago

I ride metro for fun. I love metro!

Another Nick · 632 weeks ago

I'm a little upset that this inspired me to figure out that I could make 18 round trips on a tank of gas for a total of about $42 at $3.49 a gallon ( $2.35 a day). Metro at $5.15 a day for 18 days...$92.70

Jason · 632 weeks ago

My over-protective Jewish parents (it never ends, no matter how old you get) are opposed to the idea, but I'm saving up for a 50cc Vespa. And since you can park them anywhere I can keep my transit subsidy from work for the times I do decide to brave Metro (like when I go drinking) instead of having to take a parking space at work instead.

Gooch · 632 weeks ago

Just keep in mind that you should follow the same safety practices on a scooter as on a motorcycle - full head to toe gear, good gloves, helmet, etc. You don't have to be going all that fast for the asphalt to turn your skin into (insert metaphor about something that is grated in the kitchen).

Also - similar to biking/walking, assume every driver is out to get you.

Safe riding!

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Stan Dessel · 632 weeks ago

There were probably delays on the Orange Line, too.

You're welcome!

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Frequent red liner · 632 weeks ago

I spend 2/3 of my commute on the red line, and 1/3 on the green line. While I am no stranger to delays, yesterday's delay was one of the worst I have faced. While on a green line train to branch avenue, I was offloaded at waterfront with the promise that the train "directly behind" mine would take us to branch. That train was too full to get on, so I got on the next, which took me to navy yard. Again, offloaded with the promise that the train directly behind this one would take us to branch avenue. That train arrives, it too is offloaded. Another train comes in, offloaded, and it is finally announced that there is no service between anacostia and congress heights. Time elapsed from waterfront to navy yard is over 30 minutes. I caught the green line back in town and hopped on the 32 to take me to my car at southern avenue. I did not want to fight the crowds to catch one of those mysterious shuttle busses. My door to door 1.5 hour commute took 4. Thanks for the memories wmata.

For those stuck at navy yard, was anyone else put off by the attitude given by the employees making announcements? Surely they could understand that people were trying to get home/pick up kids/catch rides/etc. This is your job. If I spoke to guests at my job in that manner, I would be unemployed. You would think that with as many problems that metro has, they would be skilled in the art of communication. Same metro, different day.

4 replies · active 632 weeks ago

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@Slick_Rick55 · 632 weeks ago

@Frequent, I am assuming I was on the EXACT same train that you was. I was offload at Navy Yard and just stood there waiting. I had parked my car at Anacostia so I decided to make the 25 minute walk. As I exited the station, i heard the station manager on the intercom say: "If you are going to Branch Avenue, you have NO train. I repat, there is NO train for you. I smiled as I exited the station, because Metro never ceases to amaze me. I didnt hang around for hours because I knew how the story would end. My walk to anacostia wasnt bad because the weather was breezy and cool. I guess I cant complain too much, because the green line is heaven compared to the orange, blue and red lines in regards to delays.

Wait.....what???? · 632 weeks ago

Has the city changed so much that it's now safe to "walk to Anacostia"? If so, that's great! Shocking. But great.

sbc · 632 weeks ago

crime is down all over the city. I (single white female) go there often for work and have not been the victim of crime, though I know people (in mine and other demographics) who have been. I honestly feel safer there than in Navy Yard on a non-baseball night or in Columbia Heights, though I don't like walking any of those places alone at night.

Besides, if you're comparing the safety "walk to Anacostia" with "wait on increasingly overcrowded metro platform" then the former is going to look even better than usual!

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Green Line Rider · 632 weeks ago

Yes, the woman making the announcement was very rude and unprofessional. I, too, was stranded at Navy Yard station for 2.5 hours. The rude Metro employee announced that shuttles were only going to Anacostia and to get to the shuttle, you had to walk a few miles. WTF! It was pointless of me to catch the shuttle when I was parked at Naylor Road. And to add insult to injury, I was still charged $3.15. Metro has to do better,

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anon · 632 weeks ago

Very surprised by the number of people who would wait up to an hour. Id give it 20 minutes max. How the hell would you know if it was a real fire? bomb.

I'm not sitting around like a lemming while Metro figures out what to do.

3 replies · active 632 weeks ago

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Radner · 632 weeks ago

I put that I would wait up to an hour, but I really think that is determined by the circumstances. With no information available, I'd wait simply to weigh the pros and cons of braving the tunnel. It is a tunnel built and maintained by metro, so it might be just as risky trying to get out of it as staying in it. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that your doomed the second you enter the system.

karah 81p · 632 weeks ago

I have had a train stuck for an hour. It is not exactly enjoyable but doable *if* you have current information and the train is not crowded.

dcn8v · 632 weeks ago

If I didn't know whether or not the third rail was live, I'd probably stay put in a situation like last night.

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Cyclone · 632 weeks ago

Orange is the new Green

You're Welcome!

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RakSiam · 632 weeks ago

Those people stuck on trains should all start filing lawsuits...call it false imprisonment.

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Andrew. · 632 weeks ago

Its only a matter of time before something like this becomes deadly. It does not take a giant leap to go from smoking equipment to a fire in a tunnel. If there had been a fire last night, chances are many people would not have got out. With that in mind, if the train is stranded and I see or smell smoke, I'm outta that train as ALA Speedy Gonzalez.

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@JimLCunningham · 632 weeks ago

If it was the summer and it was hot, not very long at all. I'd be out of there.

If it were a comfortable temperature, maybe an hour.

It should be against the law to confine people against their will for that period of time. Even airline passengers have Passengers Bill of Rights now.

Those passengers' comfort should be their first priority but I don't think it is. They probably have to follow some policy that was implemented as a knee-jerk reaction to something or to avoid some far-fetched never-happen scenario that might expose them to liability. (i.e., There's a 100% chance of making all those people very uncomfortable for a very long time vs. the .0001% chance someone might step in a hole and twist their ankle.)

1 reply · active 632 weeks ago

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K-anon · 632 weeks ago

Exactly right Jim. The litigation standard in the United States is ridiculous. Everyone sues organizations for everything; the result being that we have ridiculous procedures to TRY and prevent situations where a customer/individual could make some outlandish arguement about how it was our (the organization's) fault.

Bob · 632 weeks ago

I wonder if there were any instances of "misunderstood flirting" with so many people packed together in the dark for hours...

rory · 632 weeks ago

Does this happen on other subway systems?

preston · 632 weeks ago

To add to it, I was on the Rockville platform yesterday evening and the PID said to avoid the yellow line. Complete failure.

Vienna Bound · 632 weeks ago

Unsuck, just curious. Are there any areas of Metro that your inside sources will say have been properly maintained? It's disturbing to read each the lede on each one of these stories whether it's an esclator, elevator, communications, etc.... issue that your sources say that it's due to neglect. I don't disagree, and am not questioning it.. I just wonder if there is any aspect of Metro that despite limited resources is not going to cause a serious and dangerous perfect storm event, again.

2 replies · active 632 weeks ago

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John · 632 weeks ago

Even the fare gates are breaking down frequently. I think the only system of Metro being maintained properly is their payroll program.

SammyDC · 632 weeks ago

Quite possibly best description of Metro ever!

RRRRRRRR1 · 632 weeks ago

does anyone working for metro actually take the metro to and from the office on a regular basis?? Like Stessell? Or is that too much to expect--that their managers would actually take the metro during rush hour and experience one of these delays, on any line? He never makes mention of being an actual and regular rider.

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anon · 632 weeks ago

Concerned · 632 weeks ago

self evacuating is also called going to the bathroom

1 reply · active 632 weeks ago

Guest · 632 weeks ago

Yup.
http://www.grammarunderground.com/can-you-evacuat...

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John · 632 weeks ago

So... did anyone who was caught in that mess have to pay upon exiting?

2 replies · active 632 weeks ago

Matt G · 632 weeks ago

I've seen a lot of tweets of people who were pissed that they had to.

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Joe · 632 weeks ago

Yes. https://twitter.com/fabionsays/status/29676679423...

Dan Stesselhole · 632 weeks ago

Thank you for your patience

Rebecca · 632 weeks ago

Yes. I got charged $4 for the entire 30 seconds I spent in the Navy Yard station. I entered, with no indication of how crowded the platform was until I had already gone through the faregate. This has to be one of my biggest peeves about WMATA - look, I get that sometimes things happen, but DO NOT charge me if I exit the station within 5 minutes of entering. That means I've decided to take my chances on another mode of transit. Ugh.

1 reply · active 632 weeks ago

Huh? · 632 weeks ago

$4?
Why so much?

Jewel · 632 weeks ago

I was caught in yesterday's mess. It took a total of 3 hours to get home. Metro employees provided no instructions or information. It took my train 35 minutes to go from L'Enfant Plaza to Navy Yard. The train driver told us to get on the next train. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at Navy Yard to find an already packed platform of people who had been off loaded and told the same thing. The station manager announced that when we made it to Naylor Road, we could catch trains for points south but gave NO INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO GET TO NAYLOR ROAD! We were told by the next train load of people about shuttle buses. But, there were no buses. When buses did arrive we had to wait for the drivers to be given orders as to where to go. They didn't think to tell them before they arrived. Metro has made it clear that in the event of a major event or catastrophe, we're screwed. Worst part is that they made you pay when you exited at Navy Yard!

Kathryn · 632 weeks ago

This apology from Sarles has appeared on the WMATA website:

To Our Green Line Customers,

We apologize for the extraordinary delays you experienced last night, and in particular, to those who had such an alarming experience on the two trains that lost power.

While we have improved the speed with which we respond to incident trains, there is more that can and will be done to better assist our customers during such incidents. We are working to improve our internal communications and interagency coordination. I want to thank DCFD for their actions in support of our customers and employees last night. The responsibility for improvement rests squarely on our shoulders at Metro.

I agree with our customers that what happened last night was unacceptable and we are going to make further specific changes to improve our emergency response.

Richard Sarles
General Manager & CEO

2 replies · active 632 weeks ago

Guest · 632 weeks ago

ps - No refunds for the passengers who were stuck on the train for hours! What do you think, we're MADE of money?!

Jin · 632 weeks ago

He must be, so why aren't you?

orange line rider · 632 weeks ago

What happened to the Metro policy that if there were a systemic delay, no fares would be charged, and the fare gates would be left open. That's what should have been done last evening.