Smoky Tunnel Monday at Rosslyn Metro Station Snarled Commutes

PHOTO of Rosslyn Metro riders walking outside Monday morning by @racherika via Twitter; photo at Metro by AshPratte

See: Metro: Normal Service Has Resumed for Evening Rush Hour

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A smoky tunnel at the Rosslyn Metro station Monday morning snarled area commutes, stranding thousands of commuter from the DC area’s Orange, Blue and Silver lines.

The chaos started at about 8:15 a.m. Monday, with trains beginning single tracking service sometime around 11:30 a.m. Single-tracking occurs when two trains headed in opposite directions have to share the same tracks.

“We do have a report of smoke in the tunnel at Rosslyn,” Metro spokesperson Morgan Dye said Monday morning. “We’re working right now to determine the cause. There are no injuries or stranded trains in the area.”

“Until we get normal operations,” Dye said, “metro riders should seek alternate routes.”

For Orange, Blue and Silver line riders, train service was suspended between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery and between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon, Metro reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Twitter.

Taking the Yellow line was one option for riders or Metro was offering limited shuttle bus service between Rosslyn and other stations including Clarendon and Foggy Bottom.

Metro announced that buses were departing as soon as they filled, and that riders should expect traffic and crowds.