Monday Morning Metro Nightmare: Orange, Red Lines Snarled in DC, Arlington

A Monday morning debacle on the Orange and Red lines has resulted in massive crowds of people stranded on platforms throughout the Metro rail system while trying to get to work. Social media was awash in complaints about WMATA at rush hour as a switch problem cause delays on the Red Line and a signal problem near the Vienna stop only added to the Orange Line woes, which is currently in the midst of a 42-day "Surge."

Metro reported a switch problem outside the Rhode Island Avenue station on the Red Line at 6:41 a.m., noting that riders should "expect delays in both directions." In addition, a medical emergency at the Judiciary Square station further caused problems.

The Orange Line, which began a 42-day "Surge" on Sept. 9 featuring continuous single tracking from Vienna to West Falls Church, had it even worse: train service was totally suspended between those two stations at around 8 a.m. due to a signal problem at Vienna, forcing Metro to scramble buses.

It all combined to make one hellish commute for riders, who took to Twitter to vent their frustrations:

Gallery Place at 8:35. After already having been on full train offloaded at Mt. Vernon. @wmata @unsuckdcmetro pic.twitter.com/6nnIpNu8q5
— Jesse Roach (@roachjl) September 19, 2016

Go home @wmata you're drunk pic.twitter.com/MCCR6CyKj6
— Noa Banayan (@NoaBanayan) September 19, 2016

My very full red line train was just offloaded & also single tracking! Happy Monday from #wmata!@unsuckdcmetro pic.twitter.com/GAKQR8rTFf
— Sarah Whitmire (@sarahwhitmire) September 19, 2016

When an 8-car train goes out of service during rush hour & single tracking kicks in. Hello, Monday! #WMATA pic.twitter.com/BBC6riEBwu
— Christina Henderson (@HendWex) September 19, 2016

First train to arrive at Dunn Loring in 45!!! Min. It will travel one stop and kick us all out. #wmata sucks pic.twitter.com/aFdj16JL4g
— Denis Levkovich (@jerryriggingcam) September 19, 2016

Image via WMATA