Unsuck DC Metro: Metro Strikes Again in Massive Red Line Fail

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Metro Strikes Again in Massive Red Line Fail

Via @dnunn82@wmata why does Gallery Place look like Inauguration is today?!?? pic.twitter.com/bGhv8H4Q

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bll · 635 weeks ago

I got off a red line train going to Glenmont at about 7:40, in a spot where the platform was manageable. Maybe 10 feet down on the right, they were attending to a sick passenger, sitting on the platform. The only direction that came from metro was a guy standing on the upper level yelling 'there's a sick passenger down there.' Not sure if that was meant as a heads up to other passengers or if he was telling another metro employee on the platform. Either way, total disaster.

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Dan Stessel · 635 weeks ago

"There's no question this was a very, very difficult morning for Red Line customers. But people could still get where they needed to go." (9/19/12)

-Dan Stessel

1 reply · active 635 weeks ago

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Chris · 635 weeks ago

Yeh, if you don't mind an hour and twenty minute delay.

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

I sent a nice long letter to unsuck and cc'ed metro. I left early (according to the announcement of how much time to allow) and was still late. My major delay was far outside the single tracking area.

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

THis is the Metro soundtrack

.

1 reply · active 635 weeks ago

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 635 weeks ago

hahaha. +1000

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@VeggieTart · 635 weeks ago

I heard about this around 6:30 this morning while watching the news. This makes me so glad taking the bus to work is an option. This is one reason I really hate taking Metrorail and avoid it when possible.

5 replies · active 635 weeks ago

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

Of course their announcement said to take the bus. It would have been nice if someone at the stations could have given more directions 'take this bus for downtown' as surprisingly most ppl that commute on the train are not familiar with buses.

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Johnny B · 635 weeks ago

Are you not capable of figuring out the bus routes on your own? Maybe before placing all of the blame on Metro, you should have a back-up plan in case Metro is unreliable and you might have to find a different way to get to where you need to be.

I have learned the bus system in the event of things like what happened this morning. I hopped on and was at work within 30 minutes. It was only 10 more than my regular Metrorail commute.

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Chris · 635 weeks ago

I am pretty certain that there are no metrobuses that go from Bethesda to points downtown. The only buses I ever see at the Bethesda bus bay are J buses.

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

Like I could get on a Connecticut Ave bus even if I knew their (hopeful) schedule.

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Ever Annoyed · 635 weeks ago

Depending on where you live the bus schedule is as bad a disaster to interpret and use as is Metro's overall train reliability. Nice of you to assume others have the same conveniences as you. We all know what happens when you assume. Sounds like you work for Metro. (hah j/k)

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Steve · 635 weeks ago

Aaaaaaaaand when I saw this before we left, my wife and I decided to drive to work. Got to work in the same amount of time (maybe about 2 minutes faster).

Garage + gas for driving = $15

Normal metro fares for the 2 of us = $12.60 ($17.10 if we parked at a WMATA lot)

Peace of mind + not dying on a packed platform = priceless.

4 replies · active 635 weeks ago

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Socket · 635 weeks ago

Wow, I would be driving every day. The small difference in money is not worth it.

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Steve · 635 weeks ago

I mostly take metro due to the risk of accidents/stress. People drive like morons in this town. In fact, driving down Sherman Ave thru Columbia Heights someone pulled a jersey left right in front of us onto Kenyon and nearly smashed into us. What a jerk.

Also, most days we walk/bike to the metro for free so the $12.60 for fares is less than the garage+gas. Oh, and the ol' ball and chain gets $65 a month free on her smarttrip, so that helps.

If garages were a bit cheaper, we would definitely be driving daily.

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BrianKal · 635 weeks ago

The people driving like morosn and disregarding even basic traffic safety rules are usually WMATA Bus drivers.

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

Ditto Steve!

I see so much hassle with going with Metro that I drive or car-pool.
Seems that you could not make it to work on time if you depended on this mass transit system.

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Jason · 635 weeks ago

Whenever people complain about other people "complaining that DC isn't NYC," stuff like this is the first thing I point to--the NYC subway certainly has some problems, but it doesn't have nearly weekly meltdowns like this. (And on a similar note, in NYC you do sometimes sit in the tunnel for a minute for "train ahead of us in the platform" reasons but not with anything like the predictability of being on a Blue Line train pulling into Rosslyn in the afternoon--NYC is proof that you can set headways that avoid this!)

6 replies · active 634 weeks ago

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guest · 635 weeks ago

and their trains are cleaner. >:(

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Jason · 635 weeks ago

Exactly. I hate when people argue that the Metro is cleaner--it makes me wonder how recently they've been on the Metro because with the carpeting and ancient upholstery on the seats, some of the cars are downright gross.

As for the platforms, I have a two-part response: 1) I'd hate to see the Metro stations with the lights cranked up 2) the NYC subway platforms are not THAT dirty, especially considering that it's rare to be in a station for more than 10 minutes at a time--I'd rather stand in a NYC subway station and quickly get where I'm going, than sit in a Metro station for 25 minutes waiting for a connection during single-tracking. (And when I've been in NYC subway stations at 4 AM, when the service does drop to every 20-25 minutes or so, the benches are *clean enough* to sit on.)

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DC_Chickie · 635 weeks ago

I have to say that I have seen mice and cockroaches in their stations. But they stay pretty much in the track area and don't come up because their stations are so well lit and they don't like the light.

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Jin · 634 weeks ago

I've seen mice in our stations, both on the tracks and on the platforms. Mice don't bother me, per se, but I was a little unnerved by how unafraid the one on the platform was of people.

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Neenya · 635 weeks ago

I really wonder how anyone can be sure WMATA stations are cleaner, given how incredibly dark they are...

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Cletus Jenkins · 635 weeks ago

NYC subway system was built for high capacity, no frills, used to get people around the city. WMATA on the other hand was built more as a commuter rail, with only two tracks, to get people into to the city from the suburban areas and not really be a high capacity system. Probably poor planning at the very least in the initial stages of the system.

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

I don't mind the delays so much - in my experience I've only experienced a few major ones. And when there is a problem with the rail and they have to single track, what else can they do? Sometimes it takes longer to get where you're going to. I was able to get back on the Green line at Fort Totten, go to Chinatown and walk ten minutes to work.

What really concerned me about today was the massive crowd of people on the platform at Chinatown. That can potentially be a real serious disaster.

1 reply · active 634 weeks ago

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karah 81p · 634 weeks ago

They close sections often for inspections. What are they doing when that area has a major fail soon after? Playing tiddlywinks?

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NoNo · 635 weeks ago

I have the chance to take an out bound train... Tenleytown Station was pretty packed to downtown... Not too too bad on the side to Shady Grove. moved slowly to the end of the station to maximize the chance to get in the train. After waiting 5 minutes, a packed train arrived... Hopefully many students left the train so most of the peoiple have been able to get in. It was a little bit more difficult after...
But the worst was this stupid metro driver bitch blaming the passengers for the delay at every single station.

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Dan Stessel · 635 weeks ago

A customer sneezed near one of our high tech, safe, and reliable interlockings near judiciary square. As a result of this customer's actions, a rail was cracked. Despite this track problem caused by a customer, we still got everyone where they needed to go with only minor delays. And for that, you're welcome.

4 replies · active 635 weeks ago

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Frankie · 635 weeks ago

MINOR delays? Dan, you are high. I got on the Metro at 7:30 in Friendship Heights and I reached my destination at Metro Center at 8:50. I'd hardly call an hour and 20 minutes a "minor delay." We spent more than 30 minutes "holding" at Woodley Park because trains were single-tracking "between Farragut North and Union Station." (So why were we stuck up at Woodley park?) Seriously Dan, this morning was a nightmare and I will NOT be "thanking" Metro for any damned thing.

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@NoPants_McGee · 635 weeks ago

#sarcasmfail

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Jason · 635 weeks ago

I love how people can post pretty outlandish statements using the "Dan Stessel" handle, yet Metro is so bad that people will think it's THE Dan Stessel.

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Ever Onward · 635 weeks ago

or like me.. wish it was the real Dan if for no other reason I'd understand the stupidity a little better. ;-D

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FAN of Eagle · 635 weeks ago

took me 2 hours from shady grove to chinatown. it was a disaster. it was unbearble at chinatown/gallery place. When planners don't have vision and engineers don't want to do anything, and management is in sleeping, you pay higher fare and suffer worse and worse service.

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BradK · 635 weeks ago

So, here comes the thumbs downs for me...

First, to try and offset... Metro sucks, there is no excuse for an early morning switch problem to cause this mess...

BUT

Riders who were unaware of the problem when they entered the system at 8:00 AM can't blame anyone but themselves. I saw on my phone at 7:20 that there were major problems with the red line, and metro even stated add 40 minutes to your regular commute. (we all know that really means two hours).

I feel very little sympathy for those having arrived after the notice went out... all of us ride this circus every day, and all of us know we should have some kind of tool to tell us how bad it is today.

On that topic, I am still waiting on the "How Fucked is Metro" app for android and iphone.

25 replies · active 634 weeks ago

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Steve · 635 weeks ago

I mostly agree, but some people don't have very many options besides metrorail. If you live in like, Cleveland or Woodley Park or Van Ness, you know the buses are going to be packed and Connecticut Ave at a standstill because everyone is driving.

Sure you could hail a cab, but that would cost $25 and you'd be stuck in the same traffic. Bike in the rain? Walk 3-4 miles? Take a bus cross town to 16th or 14th street then transfer to another bus? None of those are very appealing when wmata says add 20-30 minutes. Took my co-worker 80 minutes from Woodley-Metro Center, and she arrived after 830, when the single tracking had ended (which is why she opted the metrorail route).

I have the "how fucked is metro" website bookmarked on my iphone. Very useful.

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Autumn · 635 weeks ago

That's exactly what I ended up doing - walking nearly 3 miles in the rain to get to work. I live in Woodley Park and saw several L1 and L2 buses packed to capacity not stopping at ANY bus stops. I tried to take the metro, but the platform was packed. There were no empty cabs to be found and even if there were, the traffic was at a stand still. So I walked - what choice did I have?

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

Not all of us have smart phones. I didn't hear about the delat until I got to Fort Totten around 7:00.

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dddddda · 635 weeks ago

Do you also not have a TV, radio, or computer?

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Oh, Please. · 635 weeks ago

Wow, Snarky McSmug, are you that condescending all day long, or just in the morning?

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dddddda · 635 weeks ago

Only when people constantly blame not having a smart phone for everything and act like those of us who do are some kind of entitled brats. People knew there were Metro delays before the smart phone was ever invented. They also knew things like what the weather was going to be like, or currently was. Not having a smart phone is the new "my dog ate my homework."

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

No. I have a cell phonem a land line, a tv and desktop and laptop computers. I don't need a smart phone.

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Jin · 635 weeks ago

I don't have one either. I work part-time and can't afford one.

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SammyDC · 635 weeks ago

I'm one of those folks on the planet who strive to live gadget-free. I don't have a smartphone; I don't tweet, twitter, or facebook. I gave up TV and home internet access eight years ago. I did, however, hear about the Red Line delay this morning on WASH-FM (but I do miss the days when it was a golden-oldies station!).

So, yeah, I can kind of, sort of understand where someone might not get the WMATA-major-delay-news until arriving at a Metro station.

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karah 81p · 634 weeks ago

Assume everyone does. Also assume they check one of those things a few minutes before they will leave. I plan my schedule to the *MINUTE* most mornings. I never have time to add as much extra time as a major meltdown requires. Even if I knew of the delay as soon as I woke up it is not like I could get out the door any time soon.

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Chris · 635 weeks ago

I also don't have a smart phone, and I usually watch the new in the morning, but I was in a bit of a rush and did not this morninng. Too bad for me, I guess.

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guest · 635 weeks ago

yeah, it was all over the radio; didn't see it on the TV news though.

at least the fancy new flat screen tv at glenmont was showing the delay message.

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guest · 635 weeks ago

Heck, I don't even have a computer, or the internet-web-tube-thing.

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Ever Saddened · 635 weeks ago

It was on all the news stations this morning by 5:30.

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

I guess that's what I get by watching Red Eye (it airs at 3 AM and I dvr it) instead of the news in the morning! I usually only switch to the news to check the weather report.

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karah 81p · 634 weeks ago

About the same re: news. If I happen to have free time for TV watching I put on a national news show (maybe something like 'Morning Joe' or the Today show) instead.

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Heather · 635 weeks ago

Good point. I was getting word by 6:00 on Channel 4 (thanks, Danella Sealock) that the Red Line would be a mess, which did make me wonder if there could be some trouble for the Orange Line as well, folks deciding to switch at Metro Center, etc. So I went to West Falls as I usually do, prepared for the usual amount of stupidity and rudeness, and maybe extra amounts of it if there were delays that spilled over to Orange.

Surprisingly, I really didn't have any issues. I felt bad for the folks who did leave early and try to do what they could. Wasn't their fault that WMATA's crappy service failed once again.

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dddddda · 635 weeks ago

Easier said than done. I tried two different bus lines that would get me to work. Both were running 40+ minute headways (I think they're supposed to be in the 15-20 minute range at rush hour). I compensated slightly by going OUTBOUND to Ft. Totten and taking the green line in, but it was still a cluster. By the time I saw the email, it was too late for me to catch the first round of potential bus options (yeah, on top of 45-minute headways, they arrived within 5 minutes of each other), and I simply couldn't sit around and wait for the next buses, knowing that the outbound-to-green option would only cost me a maximum of 20 minutes.

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

A tool to tell us is a good idea, yes. How many people build in a couple extra hours in the morning EVERY DAY to account for metro issues though?

Of course, that also assumes the tool tells you in time about the problem. Metro is notoriously late in sending out announcements and letting you know there is a problem and to add 30 minutes when you are leaving in 10 minutes is not really any help.

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@Sasmit5 · 635 weeks ago

Well... I agree that maybe they can't complain that they are surprised, but some people have other obligations/situations that make it so that just leaving earlier isn't really an option. I have kids in daycare and daycare has set hours.

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BradK · 635 weeks ago

Again, I want to reiterate that the situation sucked, I am not arguing that...

I further agree that some people don't have a good alternative to metro, if they have one at all...

I am only picking on riders who were saying they didnt know about this problem, i wish i would have taken the bus, etc.. This is one situation where I felt metro did an exceptional job (damn, stessel is going to quote me) communicating with the riders that they screwed up again.

the big problem i have is that this happened less than 24 hours after a yard derailment, and that issue will now be overlooked due to this unexplained switch problem meltdown.

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HehHeh · 635 weeks ago

Just claim your comment was misquoted by Struedel. What you really said was how Metro communicatons screwed up the riders again. ;D

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karah 81p · 634 weeks ago

They said to allow 30 minutes. I have my email running in the morning and that message arrived 30 minutes before the time I would normally leave.

Note that I am not ready to leave at the drop of the hat at T-30. I still have getting dressed, brushing teeth, taking medicine, and so on.

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dddddda · 634 weeks ago

The situation is, obviously, far worse for people who need to leave within a short time after the alert arrives. But I heard a lot of complaining from co-workers who don't board a train for work until 8 AM or later. I received the message from Metro at 5:58 AM, and it buzzed me awake. Now, the problem for me was that the message predicted delays would end by 8, and I don't board the Metro until 8:45. Still, I set an alarm for 7:30 instead of getting up at 8 like I normally do, and boy was that the right choice. The 7:32 message caused me to jump out bed, and the 8:04 message sent me scrambling to try to find a bus and, then, running out the door to minimize the impact. I ended up getting to work on time. No excuse for the system having epic fails as much as it does. NO excuse for there being NO communications between 6:20 and 7:30 indicating that repairs were unlikely to be completed by 8 (that is PRIME TIME for commuters, and knowing the repairs weren't going well would probably have helped a lot of people), but they did *better* than they normally do with this one. At least I wasn't told to add 10 minutes only to give up after going exactly one stop in 45 and pay for a cab.

What I don't understand is why they don't establish bus bridges in these cases like they do with track work. Surely they could scramble a few buses into service by 7:30 when the issue presents before 6 AM. It would relieve the dangerous crowding and give people an option if they don't happen to have efficient alternatives.

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Baldrick · 635 weeks ago

Yep. I got surprised at 0600 (or just before). We all jumped off the Yellow and ran upstairs to be confronted by...barriers. And with no real idea what had happened or what we should do (nobody was immediately on hand). So, like zombies using instinct, we headed over to the Glenmont side (then somebody showed up waving us over there). Announcements began soon thereafter.

But WTF happened that they had to single track from Union Station to Farrugut North? Wow.

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guest · 635 weeks ago

several minute wait at glenmont for the train to depart, but smooth sailing to ft totten--where i got off and got on the green line. :-)

shady grove-bound platform at gallery place was PACKED. however, i saw several officers (and a news crew) so i'm glad WMATA was at least paying attention.

normally i'd leave via GP the 9th st exit but no way was i going to be able to get down the platform so i just got off under verizon. wasn't raining too hard--can't complain (too much).

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Ken · 635 weeks ago

Honestly, I don't have that much of a problem with WMATA's handling of the situation. I had an email notification of the delay when I woke up at 5:45am letting me know that delays would continue until at least 8am. I continued to receive similar notifications until and even after I left the house at 6:45am.I had all the information I needed to know that this commute was going to suck. I still chose to ride Metro from Shady Grove to Gallery Place as normal. During my 2 hour commute, I hear many, many announcements from the operator and station mgr, as to the current status. Not sure what more people want. They gave people the information to make alternate choices. If you still chose to ride Metro, you knew ahead of time what you were in for. If Metro is your only option, this goes with the territory. I've been there before, so I know what I'm talking about. What I do know is that if I had driven from my home in Gaithersburg to my office at 9th & G NW, I would have arrived about the same time as my train did this morning and I would have been far more pissed and stressed.

Public transit experiences delays and we commuters have no control over that. Get over it and move on people.

3 replies · active 635 weeks ago

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

Maybe you got information but that was not across the board. During the longest hold I had this morning the operator did not convey any info to us other than thanking us for waiting. No ETA, nothing.

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Ken · 635 weeks ago

Our operator even listed buses that could serve as alternatives this morning. At one point, I heard the station manager announce when the train would depart Cleveland Park where we had been sitting for 40 minutes. So even though my normally 40 minute commute took 2 hours this morning, I can't fault Metro for their handling of the situation. My perspective could be different. For 10 years I drove everyday from Gaithersburg to Reston via I270, I495, and the toll road. It's 37 miles each way. Typically, the trip would take 60 minutes. If there was even a hint of rain or snow, it would double. For me Metro is a happy departure from the drive to work. I do so knowing there will be the occasional delay. I also have come to terms with the fact that I have little control over Metro's delays. I get there when I get there. More often than not, I get there on time. That's what matters to me.

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karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

I wish we had that. No way of knowing next morning in Van Ness (where I got on) or Woodley (where we held for a long time) what lines would take them downtown or when they were supposed to come.

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Ken · 635 weeks ago

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Guest · 635 weeks ago

Today in Washington is the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board. There are something like 12,000 transportation professionals from the U.S. and abroad in town for the biggest transportation conference in the country. Basically, anyone who is anyone at all in the transportation community attends. This includes people from the transit world as well as those in highways, air travel, ports, etc. It's massive. The conference is so large it’s spread out over three hotels. The kicker: all of those hotels are on the red line. All of them had sessions this morning. I have to imagine this mess-up is especially embarassing for WMATA, since it comes at a time when so many transportation professionals were around to witness this mess.

3 replies · active 634 weeks ago

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Heather · 635 weeks ago

There was also a big NIH conference as well, a friend of mine ran into one of the keynote speakers who was supposed to speak at 8:00. Needless to say, she wasn't able to, but kept in touch with the conference folks and they were able to work around it. Nice PR there, WMATA, keep up the good work! *insert sarcasm here*

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jkuchen · 635 weeks ago

Unfortunately most of the attendees are staying at the hotels, so they won't be able to witness the events firsthand. Of course the out-of-towners will all wonder why the locals are all late to the 8am sessions!

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karah 81p · 634 weeks ago

Please let some of them have been giving 8 am talks, oh please ...

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grumpy pete · 635 weeks ago

Came in from grovenor to union station. nearly a 2 hour trip leaving at 8 am, but whatchagonadoo? driving isn't an option for me.

Would have back-commuted to Rockville and taken the MARC, but there weren't any metro trains headed north at 8 am either and when one finally came, it was too late to catch the MARC.

Wouldn't have been so bad if my train wasn't ordered to offload at Woodley Park making the crowded station even more crowded and requiring me to wait another 4 trains before one was empty enough to pile on.

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Crazy Train · 635 weeks ago

I got on the Metro at 7:30 in Friendship Heights and I reached my destination at Metro Center at 8:50. It was packed like sardines, full of coughing and sneezing masters of the universe who think the world can't spare them, so now the rest of us can get sick, too. We spent more than 30 minutes "holding" at Woodley Park because trains were single-tracking "between Farragut North and Union Station." (So why were we stuck up at Woodley park?) I subscribe to Metro's alerts but I received absolutely NO notifications this morning. Plus, I got on the "crazy train" - there was a guy who kept hitting the speaker on the ceiling of the car and yelling at Metro to "get moving." Like the driver could hear him or something. The Red Line isn't called the "Dread Line" for nothing.

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George42 · 635 weeks ago

I wonder how much this mess will contributing thenflu epidemic happening now?

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anon2 · 635 weeks ago

Who cares how you were notified or not. The issue here is that Metro is a piece of crap, reliable only for its unreliability.

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Chris · 635 weeks ago

When I got to Bethesda to head downtown, another ride-on bus rider mentioned the delay, and the sign at the kiosk said to expect a 20-30 minute delay. If I had known about it beforehand, it would not have mattered, as I have no alternative. The train was packed, but I managed to slither into an empty seat. We took our time getting to Dupont Circle, and then we sat there. For a full hour. 7:40 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. The driver periodically said we would be moving soon. He was either mistaken or lying every time except the last one. He also used the popular line that there are several trains immediately behind this one, so don't crowd the train. The passengers in the car I was on were fine - nobody coughing flu germs that I noticed, and one young guy got up so someone, anyone, could have a turn sitting. (cont.)

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Chris · 635 weeks ago

(cont.)

I saw one thing that I had never seen before. Early on when we were parked at Dupont Circle, another train heading downtown pulled up from behind us, stopped on the track on the left, and continued. Aside from perhaps a case of a non-functional train, I have never seen one metro train actually pass another one. I guess it is this sort of innovative thinking that got Jeter her (no doubt much-deserved) executive recognition.

1 reply · active 635 weeks ago

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Twain's Train · 635 weeks ago

I saw the same thing. The train pulled up on the other side and then continued downtown past us at Dupont Circle. I would love for WMATA to explain that one.

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jimlcunningham 80p · 635 weeks ago

LAST Inauguration, Metro wasn't an embarrassment (unless you count that our train system looks like something out of a Mad Max movie).

But I don't think that'll happen twice. I attended the festivities 4 years ago, but this time I'm staying the #$%& out of the city.

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James H · 635 weeks ago

It took me 55 minutes (8:12 - 9:07) to go from Waterfront to NoMa. I let a woman use my phone to call her boss to know her know that she'd be late. I her let know that metro always sucks, but not nearly as bad as right now.

Once they opened the other side of the track towards Shady Grove, there was at least three trains that went in that direction before a train heading towards Glenmont arrived. After that it took me until the third train arrived towards Glenmont before I could board. I've no idea how many trains towards Glenmont it took in total before I got in, due to crowds and lack of height. Even getting out of NoMa there were lines at both exits - which people did not take advantage of all lanes. I don't like to imagine this happening on Inauguration day, but I would not be surprised.

The fact that Metro blames such things on "lack of funding," is just laughable. It's like they built the system without planning on s**t getting old and needing replacing. NYC does more with less $, especially given lower rates and higher amounts of usage. The fact that the 1000-series cars were over 30 years old before wmata were basically forced to admit that they might need to replacement them is scary.

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rp1 · 635 weeks ago

My boss had to take his wife to the airport and she STILL made it quicker to Orlando than he did to go to work. Ridiculous.

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Curious.... · 635 weeks ago

Last night in the same spot, there was a "track fire" and we had to run at reduced speeds through JS interlocking. I didn't see any fire but did see numerous Metro folks inspecting the tracks. Unless this is just two totally isolated incidents, which is possible, I've got a good feeling whatever went on yesterday went unnoticed until today causing the blow up.

2 replies · active 635 weeks ago

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JOhnD · 635 weeks ago

This is where a little investigative reporting would be helpful ( Dr G-lock?). Who knew what and when? What was so broken that a temporary clamp, speed restriction, etc.. could not get them through rush hour. It's not as if the switches at Judiciary Sq are needed - as switches ( except for single tracking!)

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BrianKal · 635 weeks ago

Dr. Gridlock? LOL, he's in bed with WMATA

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 635 weeks ago

1 reply · active 635 weeks ago

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Brian (OP) · 635 weeks ago

this should be titled not DC Metro Delays, but a normal day on WMATA

+8 Vote up Vote down

karah 81p · 635 weeks ago

What I emailed to unsuck with a cc to metro:

Luckily I was able to leave earlier this morning. Not a usual occurrence
but I was able to add the time metro said to allow (20-30 minutes). My
route was Van Ness to DuPont Circle, not even in the single tracking area,
and I still arrived late for work.

We held at Woodley Park (again nowhere near the single tracking area) for
a long time with no information. Must be nice that you can sit down and
get paid whether your customers/passengers are getting the service THEY
PAID RUSH HOUR FARE FOR or not.

Some suggestions for metro:
1) You do maintenance all the time so how do you *(&(*) something up at
rush hour?

2) The announcement said to use the bus if possible. Shock I know, but
people that use the metro probably do not commute on the bus. Would having
a metro peep outside at stations to direct people to the relevant buses
for downtown kill anyone?

3) Long time riders know if one area is affected most likely the whole
line will be at least partially delayed but new riders do not. SO SAY
SO!!!

4) Communicate, communicate, communicate. Saying 'we apologize for the
delay and have no information on when we will be moving' is NOT
communicating!!!

5) This happened at rush hour. It was obviously not rush hour service.
Okay you can not reprogram the fare gates, we get that. But would it kill
you to give a rebate of some sort to people who used a smartrip this
morning and automatically credit it the next time they swipe their cards?
Not a form either, people never fill those out.

+9 Vote up Vote down

BrianKal · 635 weeks ago

No trains derailed, today was a successful morning. -Danny

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Rory · 635 weeks ago

As I've said on here before, it's time to think 20 years down the line. We're never going to get third tunnels dug, so we have to figure out how to make skinny trains that can fit two to each tunnel.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Joolz · 635 weeks ago

If something like this happens again on Monday, it'll greatly relieve the congestion at the Mall checkpoints.

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@irrationalratio · 634 weeks ago

I think the bigger issue, besides the aging infrastructure and lack of a clear response from Metro, is simply the lack of options when something does go wrong. For people who live in the District, it's pretty easy to figure out bus options, but for those who have a longer commute, Metro train is simply the only option. (And yes, Metro, most people do need to get work on time. Simply getting there is not enough.) Metro should develop backup express bus plans or something for when this happens. Because it wil happen again.

+2 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 634 weeks ago

I saw on the news that Metro knew about this problem before it opened for the day. They just failed to make any accommodation (um, more 8 car trains) for the single tracking.

1 reply · active 634 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

dddddda · 634 weeks ago

Woah, if that's true, then Metro screwed the pooch BIG TIME. The alert didn't go out until almost 6, which means they didn't warn people for more than an *HOUR* after they knew. And, you're right, if they knew before opening, they not only should have added additional 8-car trains, but also established bus bridges by calling people in and told people THEN to seek alternatives. I would have been *totally fine* with slightly fewer trains once they fixed the problem if they were using more 8-car trains DURING the problems.