Limited Metrorail service will continue for the rest of November as the agency begins to reinstate more than half of its fleet, which was taken out of service after a train derailed last month, The Washington Post reported.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission on Friday approved Metro’s plan to test new inspection protocols, which would check wheels on every train car every eight days after last month’s derailment was linked to wheel and axle issues, according to the Post. This could allow Metro’s 7000-series rail cars to return to service after the commission pulled the cars, which comprise about 60 percent of Metro’s rail fleet, last month out of safety concerns.
This announcement comes after Metro said last week that reduced service would last through at least Nov. 15 as they outline a new safety plan to bring back the suspended Metro rail cars.
Metro will test out its new inspection schedule over the next two weeks, the Post reported. If the testing is approved, then this data will be included in the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission’s plan to bring back the 7000-series rail cars in December.
The Metro is also using its older model cars available in storage to alleviate wait times to increase the number of daily trains from 31 trains to 50.