Metro to take 7000 series out of service after defect was discovered in axle

Do you think the NYC Subway can lend some R32s and R42s to DC..?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transpor ... stigation/

Metro expects to submit a required testing plan Thursday to its oversight agency that would be the first formal step toward getting more than half of its trains back into service.

The plan will propose a testing or detection process that would routinely check for a wheel defect that has afflicted several of Metro’s 7000-series rail cars over the past four years. General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said the transit agency will submit the plan to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, a move aimed at ending a train shortage that has severely reduced rail service for nearly three weeks.
...

WAMU reports this is "inspect every 8 days...."

Sand Box John wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 8:40 am STrRedWolf
Unfortunately those tracks were not tied in just yet, so they couldn't have.

Phase II of the Silver line is in fact tied in, its been that way for at least two an half years. it's only the signal and train control system that is not fully operational. Nothing physically preventing WMATA from dead heading any rolling stock along the unopened part of the Silver line.

And let me guess... crews are all up and down the line tying and testing that equipment... and isn't it still Metro Washington Airport Authority track until it's officially handed over, tested, and deemed ready? I think the track is technically off limits.

All mothballed 2000 and 3000 trains have been removed from Shady Grove for a return to service sometime soon. https://twitter.com/wmata/status/145669 ... 60582?s=20

You know it’s bad when I’ve had trains with carpet twice this week…

Pensyfan19 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 04, 2021 11:42 am Do you think the NYC Subway can lend some R32s and R42s to DC..?

Wrong gauge by a 1/4 inch.

daybeers
Wrong gauge by a 1/4 inch.

That 1/4 of an inch is a minor detail when compared to the load gauge that's wrong by 1 foot 1 1/2 inches.

the track gauge is inconsequential enough that CSX has a direct siding connection to the WAMTA.

Today, Nov. 16, Adam Tuss did a series of tweets from a Metro repair facility about the status of the 7000 series, including lots of photos. I'll post a link to his first tweet and folks should be able to find the rest (unfortunately he did not create a thread of posts, just one off's). https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/146 ... 55974?s=20

JDC
Today, Nov. 16, Adam Tuss did a series of tweets from a Metro repair facility about the status of the 7000 series, including lots of photos. I'll post a link to his first tweet and folks should be able to find the rest (unfortunately he did not create a thread of posts, just one off's). https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/146 ... 55974?s=20

First tweet to last including the link to the tweet in your post. I am posting the links to all of them so folks don't have to search for them in the future.

WTOP article, ‘We’re going to do it safely’: Metro offers look at 7000-series train inspection 11 16 2021 14:58 took place in GreenBelt shop.

11:02 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460639544265555974
Getting a tour this am of Metro testing on the troubled 7000 series wheels #wmata @nbcwashington

11:04 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460639873627566089
Neal @AugensteinWTOP loves his Metro hat @nbcwashington #wmata

11:08 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460640897977176064
This is a “wheel set assembly” from one of the 7000 series. This is how they measure @nbcwashington

11:15 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460642783526535180
This is a 7000 series “truck” which holds 2 wheel sets. There are almost 3000 wheel sets in the 7000 series fleet. It takes about 6 hours to inspect one train. #wmata @nbcwashington

11:20 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460644023828459530
Metro staff says it is very obvious from measurements when a wheel set is not right. It then gets a red tag and gets sidelined until it is fixed. That whole process can stay within the maintenance department and not be raised to a higher level #wmata @nbcwashington

11:28 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460646080253681668
Underneath the 7000 series. This is pretty cool for a transit nerd #wmata @nbcwashington

11:41 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460646682476134416
They can measure these right here without actually taking the trains apart #wmata @nbcwashington

11:54 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460652532049584129
3000 seres and 6000 series - these are the trains carrying a lot of the load right now #wmata @nbcwashington

11:59 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460653765330145282
Metro’s GM says he is “not going to set a date” to get the 7000 series back on the tracks. Says he doesn’t want to rush anything back. The data will drive the date #wmata @nbcwashington

12:15 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460657838754254855
Metro maintenance teams told us today they do have a process for “frequent failures” that can get escalated to a higher level. But they would not say if the 7000 series wheel issues fell into that category #wmata @nbcwashington

17:23 11 16 2021
https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/1460735244462542848
Metro has been running two test trains of the 7000 series railcars on the tracks for a couple of weeks - I asked Metro’s GM today if there have been any issues reported and if he’s concerned those trains might not ever make it back. @nbcwashington #wmata

I know this will be a shock to many but the 7Ks will be out at least through the end of the year. We're now in day 15 of the 12 day test period of the new 7K inspection regime with nary a word of progress. No timeline is given for service restoration because of safety (not because they want to avoid any sort of accountability whatsoever).

Metro says the 7000-series trains will return to service gradually instead of all at the same time, once approved to do so by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.

When that may happen is still unclear, though. During Thursday’s Metro board meeting, General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said “we hope to know more about the timing of the return before the Christmas holiday, but all steps in the process must be satisfied to proceed.”

“While the test period has ended, Metro’s Safety Department and Railcar Maintenance engineers are busy reviewing the data and incorporating observations from the test period into a final inspection plan,” Metro said on Twitter Thursday. “The proposed plan will include more frequent wheelset inspections, which must be reviewed and accepted by the WMSC before the 7ks can return to service.”

Metro says service isn’t adding in all at once; rather, the plan is to swap out the older trains with the approved 7000-series trains as some of the older trains have intermittent reliability problems with things like doors and brakes. Metro says this will provide a “better overall customer experience and help reduce the number of railcar-related delays.”

https://dcist.com/story/21/12/09/metro- ... gradually/

“From now until after the first of the year, customers may see some 7000- series railcars transition safely back to service,” General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said. “This is part of the process that will enable Metro to announce a more definitive service plan after the first of the year. Until that time, the transition of the 7000-series railcars through the end of the year will allow us to improve reliability.”

Metro will gradually return almost half of the 7000-series railcars to service -- provide up to an additional 42 trains -- then stop reintroducing railcars for 90 days while any necessary adjustments to the new inspection process are made.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... e/2909808/

emphasis on "may". Still no 8 car sets according to MetroHero.