Metro Riders Flee as Red Line Train Fills With Smoke: Reports

WASHINGTON, DC — Brake problems on a Red Line train caused it to fill with smoke, forcing riders to evacuate at the Dupont Circle station Friday morning, according to reports.

One Metro rider said on Twitter that she was on the train and there was "tons of smoke."

"I'm still coughing. And my hair smells like smoke," said user Riz.

Another user, Sarah Schmelling, wrote that her husband was on the train and it was "FULL of smoke."

However, Metro spokeswoman Morgan Dye initially told the Washington Post that there was "no smoke and no fire," contradicting numerous passengers. She said the train's brakes caused minor delays on the Red Line train that was headed toward Glenmont. Passengers were offloaded at around 9 a.m.

The Post later updated with a comment from spokeswoman Sherri Ly, who acknowledged there was smoke but that it had cleared from the station.

Metro had not yet responded to a request for comment at press time.

I was in car ahead of car that caught fire at Dupont. We evacuated, tons of smoke, still hard to breathe.#wmata
— Riz (@Rizzz) October 14, 2016

I'm still coughing. And my hair smells like smoke. #wmata
— Riz (@Rizzz) October 14, 2016

Overheard on the metro radio: 'You may want to turn the fan on. There's a lot of smoke.' just another day on wmata. #wmata #dcmetro
— A J (@MiniSassafrass) October 14, 2016

Train problem again on metro redline! Smoke from the train at DuPont circle #wmata #dcmetro pic.twitter.com/V7JP3Yleiz
— Jason Tai (@jasontai168) October 14, 2016

Husband on this train, it was FULL of smoke. Shame on #wmata Brake problem on Metro train at Dupont Circle stop https://t.co/l6eM31vFmn
— Sarah Schmelling (@sschmelling) October 14, 2016

Image via WMATA