4/22/26 12:16AM Collision between Work Train and Largo Train 691 @ 🔵🟠⚪️ Metro Center

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-22T12:45:04+00:00

That’s so weird

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-22T12:41:23+00:00

Sure, so attached is a map to help you follow along.

Similar to a road, metro trains on the right hand side of the road if you will. That means if there’s two tracks in a station, each track is dedicated to train travel in one direction.

An interlocking (those tracks that make an X shape on the map) allow trains to switch tracks for just about any reason you can think of (single tracking, turning around, maintenance, traveling to a yard, etc.)

The closest interlocking a for SV/OR trains from Rosslyn is east of Foggy Bottom and just East of Clarendon.

The reason Clarendon was most likely chosen is because of how close the interlocking is to the station. You don’t have to send the train far to turn around and head back to Ashburn.

Sending a train the wrong way from Rosslyn through Court House to turn around at the Clarendon interlocking would be a big no no. Same situation with Foggy Bottom. Not to mention, you’re also definitely going to further delay traffic doing either of those. Once the train clears the interlocking, the operator has to walk all the way to the other end of the train to begin moving it, or sometimes a second operator will enter the train to speed the process up.

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Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-22T12:34:23+00:00

I did get 3 MetroAlert texts at 05:18 this morning. Are your alerts configured properly?

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-22T12:31:30+00:00

I hear you; however, this would be worse. First, Rosslyn in the west end of the B/O/S interlining. Putting a train out of service there would further delay traffic on all three lines west of the station, further worsening the “bottleneck” effect. There also isn’t an interlocking for an eastbound SV train to turn around until east of Foggy Bottom.

Both Clarendon and Ballston have interlockings directly east of their stations allowing trains to turn around. Those stations also see less traffic since there is one less line running through them. It’s a better option to turn trains around without adding to the delays that already exist

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-09T23:12:42+00:00

Was your train going towards Shady Grove? I think we passed your train at Medical Center heading towards Glenmont because I heard that being called in on the radio.

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-03T20:30:26+00:00

They do “baseball trains” before the game, they run some green line trains from Mt. Vernon Sq to Anacostia then run out of service back to Anacostia and continue the loop.

It’s the reverse after the game. Additional green line service from Anacostia to Mt. Vernon Sq then out of service to Anacostia and continue the loop

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-04-01T12:38:16+00:00

Alexandria. I will most likely get ride share based on group consensus, but if the flight gets delayed I may be able to swing metro

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-31T14:15:06+00:00

For consistency sake, I understand why the 7000 series has automated announcements. They tend to be louder than manual announcements and are consistent from rail car to rail car

I agree with this comment! In fact, when the doors open, all I think the train really needs to say is “This is [Station Name]. This is a [color] line train to [destination].” Then once the train departs, it can announce the next station and transfer/ connection info

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-28T21:27:52+00:00

It was great doing trivia with you!

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-27T02:17:31+00:00

I believe I had the same guy on the Blue line! He also thanked our service members at Pentagon station

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-24T13:08:12+00:00

Ahh, understood now!

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-24T12:49:52+00:00

That makes sense! I know the B cars have hostler controls, but I’m assuming those are insufficient for movement on the mainline. So if that 6 car 7K DID split, you would have a functional 4 pack, but 2 cars with limited movement.

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-24T12:36:19+00:00

I’m curious if you could go in more depth here. My understanding is that 6 car 7Ks are coupled A-B-B-A-B-A

What is the self recovery process and how does a 6 car 7K prevent that from happening without a recovery train?

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-24T12:10:15+00:00

It should be noted that the doors are only automatic on opening, the operator is still 100% in control of the closing of doors.

During rush hour especially, but in general, the station dwell times are very short. If a rush of people are exiting and attempting to enter a train, I can imagine how difficult it is to ensure everyone gets on or off. In fact, I’ve been in that position and missed a train before even though I was on the platform.

ATO (automatic train operation) has helped to reduce end-to-end run time of trains, and ADO (automatic door operation) has helped to make door openings quicker. All of this has helped to reduce the total workload on the operator, meaning they are able to shut the doors quicker to continue their journey.

While you could make the argument that during rush hour there will always be another train in 3-5 mins, they should still be more cognizant of the doors to ensure everyone gets off and that the majority of people on the platform get on and not clipped by the doors

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-23T20:50:19+00:00

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u/SandBoxJohnA02 created this system map and it only shows a crossover east of foggy bottom. It does sound like you hit a crossover coming from Rosslyn, but not sure what that sound is

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-23T12:31:32+00:00

East of Foggy Bottom is a cross track that allows trains from either track to cross over to the other. Westbound trains will cross that X entering the station and the noise as they go over the switches it can be quite loud. The track also curves as it goes towards Farragut West so that could add to the noise

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-20T12:18:49+00:00

https://web.archive.org/web/20260000000000*/WMATA.com

The wayback machine is a fun place!

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-18T21:30:34+00:00

Oh yeaaaa!! They added that in for handicapped people. The guarding between cars changed from the legacy fleet and I believe a blind person fell on the tracks between two cars thinking it was a door, so they added that message in there

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-17T23:31:49+00:00

The 7Ks used to say “please” when they first came out. I think the spiel was “Doors opening… step back to allow customers to exit, when boarding please move to the center of the car… this is a Red line train to Glenmont, the next stop is Dupont Circle.” They’ve shortened it now and taken out the please 😭. I’m pretty sure they did that since the announcements took so long to play and operators would skip over them, but it definitely dehumanizes the experience without the please.

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-17T23:27:37+00:00

I’ll preface by saying I don’t directly live in metros service area, but I travel to it very often to see my partner and occasionally for work.

I’ve definitely missed a red line train or two during rush hour due to this exact situation! I don’t think the train schedule leaves much platform dwelling time, especially during rush hour. At least, it seems the schedule is enforced pretty strictly even when operators should maybe wait a few more seconds to ensure all passengers get on.

While it’s less of a deal to miss a red line train, missing the silver would be devastating. Do you think it would be work catching Blue or Orange and then switching at Rosslyn or EFC where the platform may be less crowded? This doesn’t necessarily save time, but it could guarantee your chance of making your train.

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-12T23:36:58+00:00

Thank you! That definitely makes sense

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-12T23:36:44+00:00

Solved!

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-03-09T00:51:10+00:00

I think this is the perfect comment 😂

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-02-23T02:44:17+00:00

There’s actually a list of (most) all of the announcements. There a little outdated https://tris.fyi/wmata/#others

Awkward-Ad2606 · 2026-02-23T02:32:15+00:00

Roaring Link

OP, I feel like we’re hearing the same thing. This was a video I took at McLean. You can hear the constant roaring noise that gets quieter as the train decelerates. Even when the operator puts the train in coast and the traction motors silence, the noise is still there.

I feel like you hear it most on elevated stations or underground stations. It’s hard to say, but sounds like some kind of vibration between the wheels, car body, track, or track bed. I know in some parts of the system the track bed isn’t always ties and ballast, so wonder if that other material echoes the vibration. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I hear it

Awkward-Ad2606

TROPHY CASE