Metro To Begin First 7000-Series Return Thursday

WASHINGTON, DC — Metro's first 7000-series railcars will make a return to passenger service beginning Thursday, the transit agency announced.

Eight of the 7000-series trains will first return to the Green and Yellow Lines after final review. The eight trains will then transition to the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines in July "once railcar personnel have created a steady rhythm of inspections and consistently delivered eight trains for daily service.

When 7000-series cars return to the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines, service will be improved to every 15 minutes. On weekdays, Blue, Orange and Silver Line trains are currently running every 20 minutes, Green and Yellow Line trains are running every 15 minutes, and Red Line trains are running every 10 minutes.

The 7000-series railcars have been out of passenger service since a Blue Line train derailed on Oct. 12, 2021 between the Rosslyn and Arlington National Cemetery stations in Virginia. A subsequent investigation revealed problems with the wheel axle assembly of Metro's 7000 series railcars, forcing Metro to sideline nearly 60 percent of its fleet. Attempts to return 7000-series in early 2022 had been halted by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission as wheel axle assemblies continued to go out of alignment.

In the spring, Metro began reviewing its new return to service plan with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, including training employees on new inspection guidelines that will allow them to start recommissioning the railcars. Metro has been working on training inspectors since May 19 on processes including back-to-back wheel measurements each day using a digital gauge.

In addition, Metro is working on the second and third phases of its return plan, which will include using Automated Wayside Inspection System Equipment in the inspection process. The Automated Wayside Inspection System is being tested and will eventually be able to monitor wheel measurements on all of Metro’s railcars. Future return to service phases will require approval from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.