Track repairs at the Eastern Market Metro station were interrupted during Wednesday morning rush hour by an arcing insulator.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel were dispatched and briefly evacuated and closed down the station. The arcing insulator was reported in the work zone at Eastern Market where repairs for Metro’s SafeTrack Surge 2 are concentrated. Commuters were held at the top of the station while crews replaced the insulator. The maintenance setback did not impact the morning commute as the arcing insulator only affected a work area that is currently out of service, reports WUSA9.
Repairs are generally ahead of schedule according to Metro officials, who are touting the success of early SafeTrack maintenance. Metro workers have finished installing underground weather-tight seals located on third-rail power feeds and jumper cables meant to protect against future track fires. (RELATED: Two Arcing Insulators Slam DC Metro Riders With Major Delays)
“This is an important step toward addressing not just the NTSB safety recommendation, but toward improving overall safety in the Metrorail system,” Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said Monday in a statement. “The sealing sleeves help protect the power cables from the intrusion of water and contaminants that may cause electrical damage.”
Metro officials are noting increased ridership on the green line during the Surge 2 SafeTrack repairs and decreased ridership in the system overall, as commuters opt for roadways. The Suitland station, servicing the green lines, saw a staggering 40 percent increase in ridership Tuesday. Metro ridership has decreased by roughly 4.5 percent throughout the system since Surge 2 repairs began, reports The Washington Post.
Commuters are facing major service disruptions on the Metro as the second phase of SafeTrack repairs continue. Portions of the orange, blue and silver lines are closed for 16 days between Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road. Significant delays on these lines are expected, as well as overcrowding on platforms and trains. The first phase of SafeTrack wrapped up successfully on June 16.
The Stadium-Armory and Potomac Avenue stations are closed for the entirety of the 16-day shutdown. The stations will reopen July 3 when Surge 2 repairs are finished, but in the meantime, officials implore passengers to use alternate modes of transport.
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