Silver Line Service Expands As Metro Adds 7 More Trains To Its Operational Fleet

WASHINGTON, DC — Commuters taking Metrorail Monday morning may have noticed a slight improvement to service after Metro increased the number of trains it was operating. Metro added seven more trains to the 32 that were in operation on Friday.

With 39 trains providing service, Metro was able to extend Silver Line service to Largo Town Center. Previously, trains were stopping at Federal Center SW. This change will improve service on the Green Line, allowing trains to arrive every 20 minutes.

“Our rail maintenance crews are working hard to get more trains into service so that customers don’t have to wait as long to get where they need to go,” Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said, in a release. “We are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore more service in the coming weeks and continue to develop plans for inspections to return our 7000-series railcar fleet to service.”

The additional trains are the latest improvement Metro has made since it was ordered to pull 748 of its 7000 series railcars from service last month after an investigation into an Oct. 12 derailment revealed safety concerns with the railcars' wheel axle assemblies.

Since then, Metro has been working with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the National Transportation Safety Board, and railcar manufacturer Kawasaki to inspect all 748 railcars in order to return them safely to service.

With a nearly 60 percent reduction in its operational fleet, Metro introduced reduced service on all of its rail lines on Oct. 17. As of last Thursday, Metro estimated that reduced service would continue through mid-November.

As a stop-gap measure, Metro has been working to bring older trains out of storage and return more 6000-series trains that were being repaired back into service.

With the new trains added on Monday, rail service will operate as follows:

• Red: Trains every 15-20 minutes
• Blue & Orange: Trains every 30-40 minutes
• Silver: Train every 30-40 service, with full service now available between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Center
• Green: Trains every 20 minutes
• Yellow: Trains every 30-40 minutes

Customers are encouraged to use Metro's trip planning tools for schedule information. Metro's Trip Planner is updated with the current schedule, and Metro's Live Train Map provides real-time information on where trains are throughout the system allowing customers to better prepare for their commute.

Related:

Metro Trains To Remain At Reduced Service Through Mid-November

60% Of Metro's Fleet Removed From Service Over Safety Concerns