Riders on Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Green and Yellow Lines can expect to see a familiar site on the system Thursday: the return to service of eight 7000-series trains.
WMATA says its has been focused on training inspectors on the required safety processes to return the trains to service. This process includes daily back-to-back wheel measurements using a digital gauge and WMATA has conducted pre-operational test exercises with inspectors to ensure a smooth launch of the new process.
The 7000-series trains were originally pulled from service in October after a derailment on Oct. 12, 2021, revealed an issue with one of the wheelsets. The National Transportation Safety Board and MxV Rail experts (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.) are investigating the October incident to determine a root cause.
Earlier this spring, WMATA installed the first of six automated wayside inspection system (AWIS) that will be incorporated in Phases 2 and 3 of its 7000-series return to service plan. Using the AWIS equipment as part of the inspection process requires approval from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission and WMATA says it is “actively working” on the second and third phases of the plan with the AWIS equipment being configured and tested.
WMATA expects to use the returned 7000-series trains to increase service on its Blue, Orange and Silver lines once railcar personnel have created a steady rhythm of inspections and consistently delivered eight trains for daily service. WMATA previously stated it takes approximately three hours to inspect the wheels of an eight-car train.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
