The Metro system has been granted permission by the NTSB to resume running trains through its Red Line at normal speeds, effective Friday. The only exception will be for the segment between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations hit by last week's tragic accident. Trains will continue to slow through that stretch of track in Northeast Washington, D.C.
The resumption of regular speed service should go some way in alleviating the overcrowding and seemingly endless delays that have plagued Red Line riders since the accident. The timing was largely guided by a desire to meet the demand expected to rise for Independence Day weekend festivities.
With the status of automated track circuits still in flux though, Metrorail will continue operating in manual mode for the foreseeable future. Additionally, further delays caused by the NTSB investigation of the Red Line accident near Fort Totten are still possible.
______________________Labels: d.c. metro, metro, northeast d.c., ntsb, red line, washington d.c.
