DC Metro - huge delays after eartrhquake

[LiberalEsto]

Metro Earthquake Update 5
Issued at 6:00 p.m.

Crowds have dissipated at most Metrorail stations in Downtown DC. Metro Transit Police continue to monitor crowd conditions. All stations are open.
Metrorail trains continue operate at 15 mph systemwide as Metro crews perform post-earthquake inspections of the entire rail system, including inspections of 106 miles of track, tunnels, bridges and aerial structures. The speed restriction is expected to remain in place into the late evening tonight. Customers should expect significant delays on Metrorail until further notice due to the reduced operating speed.
Metro has extended the shifts of rail operators to extend rush hour service.
Update: Massachusetts Avenue at Union Station entrance has reopened. It was closed earlier for a building inspection outside the Metro station.

[Firebrand Gary]

1. Can you say retrofit?

[Warpy]

2. I don't know which is more dramatic

the hysteria in Washington DC or the actual damage at the epicenter.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. The actual damage, but this is one way to check the line

your operators literally crawl on it visually looking for issues. This is done anywhere from five to fifteen miles per hour and checking it is actually standard. Given trains run on average at 45 MpH... yep, this will slow all.

[Warpy]

7. Oh, I know there's an excellent reason to slow the trains

given that some of the buildings as far away as DC did develop minor cracks.

However, having the government grind to a halt and reporters crawling over the place braying hysterically into microphones was just a tad too much.

Now if they'd been doing that in central Virginia, it might have made more sense.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. And if they did the hysteria and GAVE useful

civil defense instruction I might even forgive them a little. I spent my afternoon waiting for something useful. There was a little when their interviewed the Red Cross people (and even them were a little off about evacuation, but in the East Coast I forgive them)

Otherwise... it is OFF TO THE RACES!

[Meshuga]

3. I didn't want to take the metro so I asked my wife to pick me up

The usual 30 minute car commute took 2 hours. In other words, the roads and the metro both suck today. I wonder what will happen if we have a real disaster. This city is totally unprepared.

[MrsBrady]

4. i have a friend in the Tokyo area

who walked 6 miles to his home, with hundreds of other people, during the initial part of the Fukushima disaster.

Not being sarcastic when I say that maybe you should keep some spare shoes in your office?

In DFW we don't have rail, but I do keep a pair of shoes in my car if I ever got caught having to change a tire while wearing a dress or heels, etc...
Hadn't thought about the need to walk and leave my car until just now. Maybe I aught to.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Took my husband 2.5 hours to get home

from Farragut North to Shady Grove. It normally takes less than an hour.

[James48]

8. I rode the metro tonight

The orange line from LeFaunt (spelling -sorry)stations to Ballston .

At 15 mph. It took quite a while. But the trains were nearly empty by the time I finally rode about 7:15. And even at that slow speed, there were a few spots where the car in front of me seemed to rock a little, like the track wasn't quite right.

I have a feeling this may be a few days while they do extensive track inspection and repair.

[James48]

9. I rode the Orange Line tonight

The orange line from L'Efaunt Plaza station to Ballston .

At 15 mph. It took quite a while. But the trains were nearly empty by the time I finally rode about 7:15. And even at that slow speed, there were a few spots where the car in front of me seemed to rock a little, like the track wasn't quite right.

I have a feeling this may be a few days while they do extensive track inspection and repair.