Heat, Power Problems Impacting Metro Service

IF YOU'RE A GREEN LINE commuter, you've likely been an unhappy camper today. Starting around 7 a.m., power issues along the Green Line caused trains to become stranded near the West Hyattsville station, stranding some trains and causing big delays up and down the line. Around 37,000 people use the Green Line during an average morning rush hour, with the peak coming between 7:15 and 7:45.

Other power issues caused delays on the Blue, Orange and Red lines during the morning commute.

The biggest problems remain on the Green Line, where trains are not operating between the Fort Totten and Prince George's Plaza stations. Shuttle bus service was established this morning and continues to ferry passengers around the problem, but Metro suggests avoiding the Green Line if possible. (UPDATE: Trains are moving through the area, but are sharing a single track.)

While the exact problem hasn't been pinpointed, Metro officials said during a morning news conference that with heightened demands on the electrical grid across the region, Metro has to compete like everyone else for a limited supply of juice to power the system.

The heat can be taxing on the rail system in other ways. In such conditions, the temperature of the rail steel can reach 140 degrees and extra track inspections are needed to ensure safety. To reduce the demands on power systems, Metro is considering changing the frequency of train service during the afternoon commute.

Good luck. (UPDATE: Commuters who exit at Green Line stations through 7 p.m. won't be charged for their trip, due to this morning's service delays up and down the line.)

» "Power Problems Cause Metro Delays" [WaPo]