Metro Train Derailment Impacting Saturday Service: Parts of Orange, Silver Line Suspended

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Parts of the Orange and Silver Metro lines in Northern Virginia will remain unavailable through the end of the day Saturday after a train derailed Friday morning at East Falls Church, Metro announced.

Commuters can use free shuttle bus service between West Falls Church and Ballston on the Orange Line and McLean and Ballston on the Silver Line.

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UPDATE: 10:55 a.m.: East Falls Church Metro will not have service Friday during the evening commute due to a morning derailment that saw 75 people evacuated, with one minor injury, according to Metro.

Parts of the Orange and Silver metro lines will continue to be distrupted through the evening commute due to the morning derailment, Metro officials said.

Silver Line service is expected to remain suspended between Ballston and McLean through Friday evening, Metro said in a post on social media Friday morning. Commuters should allow additional travel time.

Orange Line service is also expected to remain suspended, between Ballston and West Falls Church, through Friday evening.

Customers should plan for bus shuttles, longer evening commutes between Ballston, Wiehle and Vienna, Metro officials said.

Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) said that the Federal Transit Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are working with WMATA and he expects to see a full accounting of the derailment.

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A metro train derailment has closed the East Falls Church station.

Approximately 75 passengers were onboard the train at the time of the derailment at the station. The Arlington County Fire Department described the derailment as minor.

Passengers safely exited the train and two passengers were evaluated for minor injuries.

Train service is suspended between McLean and Ballston on the Silver line and between West Falls Church and Ballston on the Orange line.

Shuttle buses are being dispatched to the affected customers.

Click here for more information from WMATA

Patch will update this story.

PHOTO courtesy of John Sonderman via Twitter @jsonder/second image via VDOT