Washington, D.C., Metro Will Clean Tunnels to Prevent Move Subway Shutdowns

Metro officials will step up efforts to keep tunnels clear of dust and grime and clean the electrical equipment that helps move rail cars through the system after another smoke incident that shut down service to three lines during Monday’s busy morning commute.

 

Speaking to board members Thursday, Rob Troup, Metro’s deputy general manager of operations, said that crews will resume washing down the tunnels in the rail system, a practice that was halted in the early 1990s. The hope is that keeping the system’s 100 miles of tunnel free of dust and buildup, combined with other efforts, will help Metro prevent other electrical malfunctions like the one that occurred in the tunnel between the Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom stations and left thousands of commuters stranded.

“I want to get to a point where we are so proactive that these incidents don’t happen,” Troup said.

Although there was no fire, the electricity — which is supposed to be safely contained within insulation — generated heat and smoke as it escaped into the tunnel. Metro workers had to shut down power so they could investigate and make repairs, which cut service to the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.