Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
UPDATE 1 p.m. -Metro finished reviewing the safety of 7000 series rail cars and sad Thursday afternoon the way it does inspections is the correct way, so it can resume inspections. The agency had warned customers there would be delays today after it issued a safety stand-down because the union said it was concerned about 7,000 series rail cars after a mechanic got an electric shock last Saturday. Now that inspections are being done again, Metro expects the afternoon commute to normal.
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Metro told riders to expect delays Thursday because of what the agency calls in a press release a voluntary “safety stand-down.”
Riders were told they will need to wait longer for a train, and once the train comes it will likely be more crowded than usual because fewer 8-car trains are on the line. The warning was issued in a press release sent out at 8:45, which gave riders no opportunity to leave earlier to be on time for work or to use alternate means of transportation. Many people took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.
The stand-down means 7,000 series railcars, the newest ones in Metro’s fleet, are not being inspected Thursday.
The union raised concerns after a railcar mechanic was shocked last Saturday while doing inspections underneath a 7,000 series car.
In a press release, the union accused Metro of covering up the fact that this is the fourth time this year that a mechanic was shocked working on a 7,000 series car.
When WMAL called metro for details, we were told everyone who can talk to us was in a meeting. The press release, however, said that an update is expected this afternoon.
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