WMATA plots meeting to review derailment report, unveils 7000-series rail cars on Green Line

Michael Goldman, chair of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) safety committee, today announced his committee will hold a meeting on Sept. 3 to review the interim general manager's operational investigation report on a recent wide-gauge derailment.

The board expects to receive the report by Aug. 24.

Goldman was aware of lawmakers' calls for an earlier meeting, but said he wanted to give board members sufficient time to review the report and consult with safety exports before the committee meeting. He also added that factual information may be available to the board by then from the agency's safety department review of the incident.

Late last week, the agency's board ordered Jack Requa, WMATA's interim GM, to determine why his staff failed to address a previously detected track defect that caused the derailment on Aug. 6.

No passengers were injured in the derailment, although the incident occurred just prior to boarding.

Meanwhile, WMATA today added the fourth new 7000-series train set on its Green Line.

The new train left the Greenbelt Station early this morning, and will continue operating throughout the morning rush hour, WMATA officials said in a press release.

In April, WMATA began debuting the rail cars on the Blue Line. New cars are now running on the Red, Orange and Blue lines, with one train set operating on each line, agency officials said.

The new cars feature improved crashworthiness standards, event recorders and digital surveillance systems.

The agency has ordered a total of 748 of the cars, and 52 have been delivered to date.

[Editor's note: This story was updated after its initial posting.]