187 evacuated after Metro train partially derails in Arlington, service suspended Oct. 13
WASHINGTON (7News) — Blue Line Metro service will remain suspended between Pentagon and Foggy Bottom stations Wednesday after a train partially derailed Tuesday evening. One person was hospitalized, but no serious injuries were reported.
A Metro train partially derailed near Arlington Cemetery around 5 p.m. Tuesday. Arlington County Fire & EMS assisted Metro with evacuating 187 people from the Blue Line train, which derailed in the tunnel between Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery. Just one car was affected by the derailment, and there were about 25 people on that car.
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Metro officials announced Tuesday night shuttle buses will stop at the affected stations, along with Arlington Cemetery. Blue Line trains will run between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square using the Potomac River bridge, the same one Yellow Line trains use.
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7News' Tom Roussey spoke with passengers including Stephanie Howard, who called the situation "frustrating."
“We heard three pops, and then we saw sparks on both sides, and then it stopped for a brief second," she said. “We noticed we were getting closer to the wall, and then all of a sudden we start seeing smoke. It just took a long time, they had no idea what to do, it was kind of frustrating.”
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7News cameras saw some of those passengers walking along the tracks toward the closest platform, Arlington Cemetery. The first ones started to arrive around 6:50 p.m.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission is investigating at the scene.
Metro officials provided an update around 7:15 p.m. You can watch their comments in the video below.
As of then, people were still being evacuated and the cause of the derailment was unknown.