Explosion Causes Red Line Delays
Picture of smoke in Red Line station uploaded by @arasmus
Update, 11am: “Normal” service restored.
Update, 10am: Red Line is now single-tracking between Farragut North and Judiciary Square. According to Dr. Gridlock, Metro spokeswoman Angela Gates says a collector shoe fell off a train car, sparking a fire under the train at Gallery Place-Chinatown. Smoke then traveled down the tunnel to Metro Center.
Most of the downtown Red Line has been virtually shut down by heavy smoke between Metro Center and Gallery Place-Chinatown — official delay announcements have been punctuated online by reports from Twitterers of a fire caused by one or two minor explosions, possibly from under a train.
@drgridlock: A collector shoe, which sends power from the 3rd rail to the train, fell off and caused a fire.
@EWebb_PYT: 2 minor explosion on the red line! We were scared as heck. Glad everyone made it out without injury! I’m walking from Metro Center
Fuzzy pic from @1THEREGG shows what looks like a small fire on the tracks:
@DCFireEMS: metro incident – Metro Ctr / Gallery Place smoke in tunnel and/or fire under train Metro Ctr being evac
@sspenguin: DC Fire/EMS: #RedLine train’s burning brakes caused electrical fire, boom at Gallery Place; smoke backed into Metro Center station.
davestroup: now people are saying “small explosion” what in the world. it was likely arcing, using term explosion is rather sensationalist.
movingmomentarily: Burning breaks caused a small fire and train was evacuated apparently. Red line is in a DO NOT USE state. I bet it smells AWFUL too…
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2 Responses to “Explosion Causes Red Line Delays”
October 6th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Looks like things are re-opening according to the Get There blog on the Post’s website. Glad no one was hurt!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:05 am
was on chinatown tracks–heard loud boom as train departed. train stopped. then continued into tunnel. another loud boom accompanied by flash of fire in tunnel and heavy smoke.