Page 5 - ATODAY

U.S. NEWS A5
Thursday 17 March 2016

Subway safety shutdown makes for a very long day in capital

neighborhoods. But the The system has closed for reiterated that it was nec-
system has become less re- days for weather, but this essary.
liable and ridership has suf- was believed to be the first Delayed trains, closed es-
fered. shutdown for mechanical calators and other annoy-
Wiedefeld, who took over reasons. ances have become fre-
in November after running Wiedefeld said in closing quent, but the Metro has
the Baltimore-Washington the system that “while the had deadly accidents as
airport, acknowledged in a risk to the public is very low, well, including a 2009 col-
public letter this month that I cannot rule out a potential lision between two trains
the agency must “improve life and safety issue here.” that killed nine people. An-
safety and security, deliver On Wednesday evening, other passenger died last
more reliable service, and he said he recognized the year, when malfunctioning
continue reforms to get our hardship that the shutdown electrical equipment filled
financial house in order.” meant for the region but a train with smoke.

The White House is visible as morning traffic builds along 16th
Street Northwest, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016.
The Metro subway system that serves the nation’s capital and
its Virginia and Maryland suburbs shut down for a full-day for
an emergency safety inspection of its third-rail power cables.
Making for unusual commute, as the lack of service is forcing
some people on the roads, while others are staying home or
teleworking.

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

BEN NUCKOLS est rail system stopped its
JESSICA GRESKO trains at midnight Tuesday
Associated Press for a system-wide inspec-
WASHINGTON (AP) — An tion of its third-rail power
unprecedented 29-hour cables after an electrical
safety shutdown of sub- fire on Monday.
ways in the nation’s capital With inspections nearly
inconvenienced hundreds complete as of 5 p.m.
of thousands of people Wednesday, Metro’s gen-
on Wednesday, but de- eral manager, Paul Wie-
spite predictions of “Metro- defeld, said at a news con-
mageddon” or “Metropo- ference that the system
calypse,” it was hardly the would reopen as planned
end of the world. on Thursday at 5 a.m. In-
Many riders shrugged it off, spections of 600 cables
saying it’s what they’ve found 26 areas of concern
come to expect from the requiring replacement or
aging, troubled Metro sys- repair, Wiedefeld said, in-
tem. cluding three he called
One popular Twitter feed “show-stoppers.” Many of
about the system, @un- the issues have already
suckdcmetro, was running been fixed and others
a poll on whether the shut- will be before the system
down would solve “Metro’s reopens, or officials will
flaming cables problem.” modify service as a result,
Thousands voted, with he said. The next step, he
more than three quarters acknowledged, was to un-
saying no. derstand why the problems
“Metro sucks,” said Bob had occurred.
Jones, 26, of Arlington, Vir- Riders take more than
ginia as he waited for a 700,000 trips on Metro trains
bus. The subways are “al- every day because it’s still
ways slow, always crowd- a quick way to get down-
ed,” he complained. town from Maryland, Vir-
The nation’s second-busi- ginia and the city’s outer