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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

Metro to begin reinstating suspended cars after safety panel green lights plan

Six+Metro+stations+south+of+Reagan+National+Airport+on+the+Blue+and+Yellow+lines+reopened+this+fall+after+summer+construction.+
Sabrina Godin | Senior Staff Photographer
Six Metro stations south of Reagan National Airport on the Blue and Yellow lines reopened this fall after summer construction.

Metro is starting to bring back train service to full capacity after a safety panel approved the agency’s reinstatement plan.

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission conditionally approved the gradual reinstatement of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s 7000-series rail cars, following a two-month long suspension, Metro officials announced in a release Tuesday. WMATA officials will phase in 336 of the suspended cars and wait 90 days to assess their performance before reinstating all 750 cars, according to the release.

WMATA suspended 60 percent of its fleet in October after a Blue Line train derailed near Arlington Cemetery, and students and local commuters said they had to miss class or readjust their schedules to make up for the changes.

The approved plan includes weekly car inspections, which were previously completed every 90 days, the release states.

“From now until after the first of the year, customers may see some 7000-series rail cars transition safely back to service,” Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in the release. “This is part of the process that will enable Metro to announce a more definitive service plan after the first of the year. Until that time, the transition of the 7000-series rail cars through the end of the year will allow us to improve reliability.”

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