Safety Milestone: Washington Metro Completes Removal of Porcelain Insulators from all Underground Stations

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) GM/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld has announced that all porcelain third-rail insulators at underground station platforms have been replaced with safer, more heat-resistant fiberglass insulators throughout the entire Metrorail system.

Wiedefeld accelerated the removal of porcelain insulators from underground stations following an arcing insulator incident at Federal Center SW that resulted in a temporary suspension of Metrorail service between Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza stations in May.

The specially-designed fiberglass rail insulators support the third rail, which provides 750 volts of electric traction power to Metro railcars. Third-rail insulators are installed at intervals of approximately 10 feet along the more than 230 miles of Metrorail track.