The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has launched an investigation into last Friday’s accident where two cars on Metro’s Red Line detached from one another, prompting the evacuation of over 100 passengers.
A total of 108 Metro riders were stranded for hours after two cars separated from a Red Line train while it was moving on October 9. Then they had to be evacuated.
The incident took place as the train traveled between Union Station and the NoMa-Gallaudet station. The two front cars disconnected from the back cars of the train.
Metro incident Red Line train between Union Station and NOMA station NW. #DCsBravest investigating report of a train with uncoupled cars & possible cross tie fire. Train is occupied but no injuries reported. Working in conjunction with @Wmata & @MetroTransitPD pic.twitter.com/XSpk7e2Ve4
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) October 9, 2020
Red Line service between Gallery Place and Rhode Island Avenue was suspended for a few hours following the accident. The service was restored after 5 pm with several trains.
This was at least the fourth incident of the same nature, during three of which riders were on board, in less than five years, according to a report by ABC7.
The decouplings occurred on the Silver Line near the Wiehle-Reston East station in April 2019; on the Green Line near Navy Yard in January 2016; and on the Red Line between the Twinbrook and Rockville stations in December 2016.