Metro: Lightning May Have Caused Power Problems

[Trainspotter]

Metro: Lightning May Have Caused Power Problems

Rash Of Fires, Smoke Incidents Slow Service

 

 

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Metro Investigates Rail Problems[/float]WASHINGTON -- Metro is blaming its power problems from the past two nights on aging infrastructure and a possible lightning strike.

 

Metro General Manager John Catoe said a power surge caused by a possible lightning strike likely blew a transformer near Reagan National Airport Sunday evening, sparking small fires and sapping power to trains.

 

The same problem re-emerged during the evening rush Monday night, forcing Metro to close some northern Virginia stations for several hours. Smaller fires were also reported at other stations throughout the system on both nights. But Metro said other factors caused those problems.

 

 

The agency plans to reconfigure its power Tuesday to route around the blown transformer. It will also run trains at slower intervals during the evening rush to compensate for lower power levels.

 

Metro plans to expedite repairs to the stations as a result of the mess.

 

Metro officials said trains ran normally Tuesday morning.

 

For two days, Metro trains experienced some of the same problems, such as small fires and smoke alarms that shut down service.

 

A problem at the Pentagon City station shut down train service between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations Monday night. There was also a track fire at the U Street/Cardozo station in D.C. on Monday, which shut down service between Cardozo and Columbia Heights stations.

 

Monday's problems began about 7:15 p.m.

 

In a statement, Deputy General Manager Gerald Francis apologized to riders for the inconvenience. He said the outbreak was unprecedented in Metro's 31-year history.

 

"We know our riders were frustrated," Francis said.

 

Dominion Virginia Power, which provides electricity to Metro stations in northern Virginia, said it did not record any electrical problems around the time of the transit mess.

 

"There do not appear to be any disturbances in our system that could have caused these series of events on Metro," said Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson.

 

She said Metro maintains its own wires within the transit system, and Dominion only provides electricity at stations in Virginia, not the District of Columbia.

 

Metro said some of the fires in the District were caused by aging insulators that are attached to the electrified third rail. Dampness can cause the insulators to fail, Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith said.

 

One rider said hundreds of people were at the Pentagon City station Monday when the fire was discovered.

 

D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said his investigators were working with Metro to determine the cause of the fires. He stressed that no one was in danger.

 

"It's more of a nuisance than a hazard," Rubin said.