WMATA pulls 7000-series rail cars due to safety issues

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) today suspended all of its 7000-series rail cars, or about 60% of its rail fleet, as part of an investigation of a recent derailment on Metrorail’s Blue Line.

Without the 7000-series cars, WMATA will operate about 40 trains today, offering a basic service pattern on all lines of trains departing about every 30 minutes, authority officials said yesterday in a press release.

"All trains will operate as six-car trains," they said.

WMATA pulled the cars as it works with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the investigation into last week’s derailment on the Blue Line.

The NTSB found that the fourth axle of the car that derailed was out of compliance with 7000-series specifications, The Washington Post reported.