Incidents on the Washington Metro
| Company type | Public transit authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Products | Metro rail and bus services |
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has encountered multiple accidents on the Washington Metro throughout its operational history, including crashes that have led to injuries and deaths, as well as train derailments. WMATA has been criticized for disregarding safety alerts issued by experts.
January 6, 1996
During the Blizzard of 1996 on January 6, 1996, a Metro operator lost their life when a train failed to halt at the Shady Grove station, overshooting the platform and colliding with an unoccupied train awaiting deployment.[1] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the accident was caused by a malfunction in the train’s computer-controlled braking system. The NTSB advised WMATA to permit operators to use manual braking controls and to ban parked rail cars on inbound tracks.[1] Additionally, they recommended strengthening the 1000-series cars to avoid telescoping during collisions and fitting all 1000-series cars with event recorders.[2] WMATA declined the reinforcement recommendation in 2002, citing concerns about feasibility and a potential increase in injury severity. Despite earlier recommendations following a fatal incident in 1982, event recorders had not been installed by January 1996.[1]
November 3, 2004
On November 3, 2004, an out-of-service Red Line train rolled backward into Woodley Park station and collided with a passenger train stopped at the platform. While no fatalities occurred, twenty individuals were injured. A fourteen-month investigation concluded that operator inattention was likely the cause. Safety authorities estimated that had the out-of-service train been carrying passengers, at least seventy-nine fatalities might have resulted. The operator was terminated, and Metro pledged to equip over 300 rail cars with rollback protection systems.
June 22, 2009
Two Red Line trains collided near Fort Totten station on June 22, 2009. A southbound train had stopped just before the station when another southbound train crashed into its rear, causing the lead car to telescope into the rear car of the stationary train. This accident resulted in nine deaths and more than seventy injuries. The driver of the moving train also died. WMATA confirmed that both trains were operating on the same track without single-tracking protocols in place. Following this event, Red Line service was suspended between Fort Totten and , and New Hampshire Avenue was closed.
November 29, 2009
At approximately 4:27 am on November 29, 2009, two out-of-service trains collided within the Falls Church rail yard located in Fairfax County, Virginia. The collision rendered three rail cars beyond repair. Three WMATA employees sustained minor injuries and received treatment at a local hospital. The NTSB launched an investigation into this incident.
The operator involved, who had been employed by WMATA since 2007, was dismissed for "failure to follow standard operating procedures." His train was traveling at 18 mph within a yard where the speed limit is 15 mph and should be further reduced near stationary trains.
All twelve rail cars involved suffered damage; two were derailed, leading to estimated damages exceeding $9 million. Cars numbered 1106, 1107, 1170, 1171, 3216, and 3217 were deemed irreparable.
October 7, 2019
During the morning rush hour, two out-of-service 3000-series rail cars collided while being transferred to rail yards between Foggy Bottom and Farragut West stations, causing disruptions on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines. Two operators sustained injuries. The stationary Train 755 consisted of cars 3141, 3140, 3121, 3120, 3206, and 3207; the striking Train 700 included cars 3008, 3009, 3010, 3011, 3019, and 3018. The collision occurred when car 3008 impacted car 3207, resulting in extensive damage to both vehicles. Additionally, cars 3140 and 3120 experienced broken couplers. Cars 3008, 3009, 3120, 3121, 3206, and 3207 were deemed irreparable.
Track worker accidents
Over a span slightly exceeding one year, Metro faced multiple fatal incidents involving track workers. In October 2005, a Metro employee lost their life at the Braddock Road station, which serves the Blue and Yellow Lines. Another fatality occurred in May 2006 when an employee was struck by a Red Line train at Dupont Circle station. On November 30, 2006, two workers died during routine maintenance near Eisenhower Avenue station after being hit by a Metrorail train. The operator responsible was found culpable and permanently prohibited from operating Metro vehicles. Following these incidents, WMATA limited track inspections and imposed speed restrictions on trains passing inspectors.
On August 9, 2009, Michael Nash was fatally struck by a ballast regulator between two unnamed Orange Line stations in Fairfax County. Less than a month later, on September 10, John Moore was hit between two stations including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, succumbing to injuries four days afterward.
On January 26, 2010, Jeff Garrard and Sung Oh died after being struck by track equipment while installing new train control systems on the Red Line outbound track at Rockville station. On October 6, 2013, contractor Harold Ingram was killed and two Metro employees injured when a 40-foot rail section struck them within a work zone near Union Station on the Red Line.
Derailments
- January 13, 1982: A train derailed at a malfunctioning crossover switch close to Federal Triangle station. Supervisors failed to detect a subsequent derailment of a second car that collided with a tunnel support structure, resulting in three fatalities and twenty-five injuries. This event occurred shortly after the Air Florida Flight 90 disaster.
- January 2003: A Blue Line train carrying forty-six passengers derailed at National Airport station; this incident was followed by seven additional derailments over the next twenty months, some occurring in rail yards or on lead tracks.
- August 19, 2004: A derailment involving a 5000-series train took place near Silver Spring station on pocket track used for turning Red Line trains.
- January 7, 2007: Approximately one hundred twenty passengers were aboard when a Green Line train derailed near Mount Vernon Square station during single tracking operations. Eighteen individuals sustained injuries; sixty passengers were evacuated from the tunnel. This incident was among five derailments involving the newer 5000-Series cars.
- June 9, 2008: An Orange Line train composed of 2000-series cars derailed between two stations due to inadequate track inspections and failure to report known issues.
- March 27, 2009: Mechanical problems caused a Red Line train to derail near Bethesda station; notably, the recovery train dispatched also derailed during operations.
- February 19, 2009: A vacuum maintenance vehicle experienced two derailments near an unspecified station. On the same day, a Yellow Line train consisting of 5000-Series cars derailed close to Mount Vernon Square without serious injuries.
- February 12, 2010: Following operator error and management shortcomings after departing Farragut North station, a Red Line train derailed. Approximately three hundred forty-five passengers were evacuated with minor injuries reported. The NTSB conducted an investigation into this event.
- April 24, 2012: A Blue Line train derailed near Rosslyn station; no injuries were reported.
- July 6, 2012: A southbound Green Line train derailed in Hyattsville, Maryland; three cars left the tracks but remained upright. There were no injuries. Heat-induced rail deformation was considered a probable cause.
- August 30, 2013: A non-revenue Red Line train derailed between two stations with no injuries but caused significant rush-hour service interruptions.
- August 6, 2015: An unattended multi-car train derailment resulted in major delays and effectively shut down three metro lines during the morning commute. Several stations were closed leading to emergency bus services and overcrowding.
- July 29, 2016: During Safetrack maintenance near East Falls Church station, a westbound Silver Line train derailed; two cars sustained heavy damage while minor injuries were reported. The affected station closure contributed to substantial delays.
- January 15, 2018: A Red Line train equipped with new 7000-series cars derailed between Farragut North and Metro Center stations without any injuries. The incident was likely caused by a broken rail.
- July 7, 2020: Two cars of a Glenmont-bound Red Line train derailed at Silver Spring station after potentially passing a red signal. None of the thirty-two passengers or the operator were injured.
- October 12, 2021: Between Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery tunnels on the westbound Blue Line (7000-series), a derailment occurred causing service suspension until October15. The entire fleet of these cars was removed from service for axle inspections resulting in severe reductions in service frequency. The NTSB attributed the cause to axle wheel migration outside specification limits.
- September 29, 2023: A southbound Blue Line train derailed on an elevated section south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station after colliding with debris from an earlier train incident. No injuries were reported.
Additional incidents
In 1987, a CSX freight train derailed close to Takoma station, where freight and Metro lines run parallel. The train broke through a fence and collided with the Metro power substation, causing extensive damage. This event prompted the NTSB to recommend installing an intrusion detection system along this section of track.
In 1989, an Orange Line train struck a vehicle that had fallen from an Interstate 66 overpass. The operator engaged the emergency brakes, reducing speed to approximately 5 mph upon impact. Fortunately, none of the 40 passengers sustained serious injuries.
Train separations
- January 6, 2016: Separation occurred between two 3000 Series cars near Navy Yard station, resulting in service delays.
- December 12, 2016: Two 7000 Series cars detached on the Red Line at Twinbrook station.
- August 27, 2018: Cars numbered 6038 and 6039 separated on the Silver Line between McLean and East Falls Church stations.
- April 15, 2019: A non-revenue 3000 Series train experienced separation while moving onto the Wiehle-Reston pocket tracks.
- October 9, 2020: On a northbound Red Line train, cars 6075 and 6079 separated between NoMa and Union stations, halting service between Gallery Place and Rhode Island Avenue; more than 100 passengers were stranded but unharmed.
- November 24, 2020: Cars 6150 and 6177 disconnected on a southbound Red Line train departing Glenmont station, suspending service between Glenmont and Forrest Glen without injuries. Following this event, Metro temporarily removed all 6000 Series railcars from operation pending further investigation.
Near misses
Metro has experienced multiple near-miss events. On June 7, 2005, a train operator traveling through the tunnel beneath the Potomac River halted after observing red signals between two stations, narrowly avoiding a collision by a short distance; the trailing train also came close but avoided impact by another small margin. In March 2009, near Potomac Avenue station, one train passed within feet of another due to a malfunction in the Automatic Train Protection system.
January 12, 2015
During rush hour on January 12, 2015, smoke filled a Yellow Line train departing from one station en route to another. All passengers were evacuated; however, 84 individuals required hospitalization and one fatality occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board identified "an electrical arcing event" as the cause. This was the first fatal incident on the system since June 2009. Electrical arcing occurred between the third rail and the track bed, though the precise origin was not determined. The incident raised concerns about the promptness and effectiveness of Metro’s emergency response.
December 10, 2019
On December 10, 2019, smoke emitted from an arcing insulator near a station caused Red Line service to be suspended between two stations during morning rush hour. One train became trapped in smoke inside the tunnel at Tenleytown station. Later that day, similar smoke issues at another station led to suspension of service between two additional stations. Red Line trains operated on a single track between Friendship Heights and Van Ness due to another insulator failure. In response to these events, WMATA replaced thirty-six arcing insulators the following day.
February 4, 2020
On February 4, 2020, smoke was detected following the use of an unauthorized tool by maintenance personnel to remove a padlock from an employee locker located in a mechanical room. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, train operators performed track inspections prior to restoring regular service. WMATA received criticism regarding its management of this event.
"Lost Child" emergency pull
On July 21, 2015, at L'Enfant Plaza station, an individual activated an emergency stop lever after missing his intended stop. Surveillance footage revealed him forcibly opening train doors and running along the platform accompanied by a young child. In compliance with Metro protocols, the entire line was secured and response teams were deployed to evaluate the situation, resulting in significant delays and passenger dissatisfaction. According to Metro Transit Police, the man halted the train after becoming separated from a second younger child on the platform. He was interviewed but no charges ensued.
Structural incidents
Rhode Island Avenue station was temporarily closed on September 1, 2016, after concrete fragments and metal debris fell from the mezzanine ceiling on two occasions within two days. An emergency investigation was initiated by Metro, and station operations were suspended pending comprehensive safety assessments.
Oversight
Previously, WMATA was overseen by the Tri-State Oversight Committee, which did not possess regulatory authority. While Metro’s safety division investigated incidents, it lacked enforcement power over recommendations across different agencies. In October 2015, following several safety failures, the Federal Transit Administration took over WMATA oversight with authority to conduct inspections and impose sanctions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), tasked with investigating major transportation accidents, does not have regulatory or enforcement capabilities. Despite issuing recommendations to enhance crashworthiness of WMATA trains after collisions in 1996 and 2006, WMATA did not adopt these changes, citing tax-advantaged leases and plans for fleet replacement around 2014. Consequently, the NTSB designated this as "Safety Recommendation R-06-2 Closed Unacceptable Action" due to WMATA’s failure to act.