If you ride Metro, you’ve probably noticed or at least heard about trains being slower than usual lately. It’s happening because Metro has instituted “slow zones” in order to inspect and repair tracks.

Image from stephanie harry on Flickr.

In mid-August, a train derailed on defective track near Smithsonian station. Following the incident, WMATA revealed that the defective track had been discovered a month prior during an inspection, but went unrepaired.

After the August derailment, WMATA Acting General Manager/CEO directed staff to perform track inspections on every mile of track in the system. Metro has been using its Track Geometry Vehicle (TGV) to check the system’s rails for defects, as well as manual inspections while walking the tracks to see if the track is safe. The “aggressive campaign to visually inspect curved sections of track on the Metrorail system” has meant speed restrictions on most lines, mainly curves. Fixing the tracks means slower trips

The Red Line is the one with the most slowdowns. Speed restrictions, where the trains are limited to speeds below what the track is ordinarily rated for, were placed on sections of track near the core between Union Station and NoMa-Gallaudet on August 19th where all track ties and fasteners of a 1300-foot section of track had to be replaced.

Additional track work is being done mid-day between NoMa-Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue which is possibly related, but at very least causing single-tracking during the mid-day work window. Both of these portions of mid-day work continue through September 19th.

On August 21st, the speed restrictions were expanded system-wide to any curved section of track rated for running trains at-or-above 35 miles per hour on all lines.

In a tweet from WMATA’s Board member Augustine, there are no lingering “code black” issues—issues where the track needs to be shut down immediately—known to be in the system.

Different problems mean different speeds

WMATA says it is imposing speed restrictions on track as a precaution while it performs inspections system-wide.

Metro classifies track defects using a color system. “Level black” level defects require that the track be taken out of service immediately, like what should have happened to the track outside the Smithsonian station. “Level red” problems require deep speed restrictions. Other defects, like “level yellow” may require speed restrictions, but they’re not as urgent.

On August 14th, there were nine “red” track problems through the system, meaning restrictions needed to be put in place in order to prevent further damage and to ensure safety until the track could be repaired. In these locations, trains are restricted to 15 mph.

There were only four on August 28th, but as of the 31st, the number was back up to five.

Speed restrictions themselves are not a new method of slowing trains, nor are they unique to WMATA. MARC and VRE commuters during the summer will oftentimes see delays on the Brunswick or Camden lines due to speed restrictions put in place by CSX (who actually owns the tracks they operate on), since high temperatures can cause significant track problems.

According to WMATA spokesperson Brian Anderson, “the 234-mile Metrorail system on a typical day averages ten speed restrictions, nothing new or different as a result of our non-passenger train derailment. The reasons restrictions are put in place can vary from personnel working in a work zone to general track/infrastructure conditions, such as water infiltration, missing or broken components, wear, etc.”

The first apparent track issue after the derailment that required immediate work was on August 17th between Clarendon and Foggy Bottom on the Orange/Silver/Blue lines. An inspection earlier in the day by the TGV required taking a track out of service for around two hours for an unspecified urgent repair.

Here’s where trains are slowing down

While WMATA has confirmed that there are currently five “slow” areas of track, it hasn’t said how many “medium” sections (where speed is limited to between 35 and 40 mph) there are. Below is a collection of what I know based on official information and third-party reports:

  • All medium/high-speed curves in the system are subject to speed restrictions of below 35mph until they are cleared to be put back into service

  • Acknowledged Slow Speed Restrictions (15mph limit)

    • Yellow - Pentagon to L’Enfant, both directions (Metro has said this one is weeks away from being resolved.

    • Red - Medical Center to Grosvenor, Glenmont direction

    • Red - Dupont Circle to Woodley Park, Shady Grove direction

    • Red - Union Station to NoMa-Gallaudet, Glenmont direction

    • Red - Orange/Silver/Blue - Foggy Bottom to Farragut West, New Carrollton/Largo direction

  • Possible Medium-Speed Restrictions

    • Red - Bethesda - Friendship Heights

    • Red - Judiciary Square - Union Station - curves

    • Red - NoMa-Gallaudet - Rhode Island Avenue

    • Red - Forest Glen - Silver Spring - restrictions appear limited to the curves

About your trip…

Speed restrictions will slow your trip down if you travel anywhere near one. Even if a slow section of track does not specifically affect your train, it may slow another in front of you thus affecting you. For the Red Line in particular, since there are multiple speed restrictions, there will be a noticeable increase in commutes especially on the western two thirds of the line.

Also, with trains still being operated mostly in manual mode instead of automatic, the ride may be jerkier than you are used to. Restrictions are placed on a track in sections and can sometimes change between days, leaving train operators to sometimes brake or accelerate quickly when they enter a new “circuit,” or section of track. “The current slow speed restrictions are a result of safety inspections finding track conditions,” said Anderson. “Work is underway to make permanent repairs. We anticipate removing NoMa-Union Station the third week of September; Yellow Line bridge is still weeks away from completion.”

Track inspections and work are ongoing in off-peak and night hours, which should be geared towards reducing or eliminating the speed restrictions, and WMATA says they want to have them all completed sometime by September 19th. Keep in mind, however, that not all speed restrictions are related to the derailment incident and that there may always be a few here or there as regular inspections and work is done on the system over time.

Without further public communication from WMATA, it is hard to tell where other speed restrictions are. Communication from the agency has been haphazard, split between silently-announced postings on their website and direct replies to complaining travelers on Twitter, and no official list has been published to allow customers to plan ahead.

However, if you are traveling on Metro and encounter any of these areas or are using lines affected, expect delays. You should be moving momentarily.

Update: A previous version of this post listed an incorrect location of a speed restriction. Metro has since confirmed its location, and the latest version has both that information as well as both context on how many speed restrictions are usually found on the system daily and more info on the timeline for removing some of the restrictions.

Stephen Repetski is a Virginia native and has lived in the Fairfax area for over 20 years. He has a BS in Applied Networking and Systems Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology and works in Information Technology. Learning about, discussing, and analyzing transit (especially planes and trains) is a hobby he enjoys.