1982 Washington Metro train derailment
Encyclopedia
The 1982 Washington Metro train derailment was an incident involving a single Orange Line
Washington Metro
train during the afternoon rush hour
of January 13, 1982, in Downtown Washington, D.C. in the United States
. The train derailed
as it was being backed-up from an improperly closed rail switch between the Federal Triangle
and Smithsonian
stations, and caused the deaths of three passengers. Several survivors were trapped for hours, and 25 were injured. The incident marked the first resulting in a fatality involving the Metro system and remained as the deadliest incident occurring in the system until the June 22, 2009 collision that resulted in nine fatalities.
while backing up from an improperly closed rail switch called the Smithsonian Interlocking. The derailment occurred after the front wheelset followed one track and the rear wheelset followed another, after the train entered a track normally used to switch trains between the parallel tracks. The resulting derailment saw the train move in a diagonal fashion for 150 feet (45.7 m) before coming to a stop just east of the Federal Triangle
station. Due to its occurrence during the evening rush hour, 1,200 persons were reportedly aboard the train. The accident resulted in three fatalities and 25 injured. Both Orange and Blue Line
service was suspended between McPherson Square
and the Federal Center SW
stations. The response to the incident was slowed due to emergency personnel already responding to the crash of Air Florida Flight 90
into the 14th Street Bridge thirty minutes earlier. Full service along the Metro did not reopen until the evening of January 15 following the removal of the wreckage from the tunnel.
Prior to the accident, Metro policy called for passengers to remain in the cars until rescue personnel arrived. This was based on concerns posed by the 750-volt third rail that powers the trains in addition to possible abuse by pranksters. Following the incident, Metro reversed its policy and by 1985 began the installation of emergency handles to allow passengers to escape a car in the event of fire.
Orange Line (Washington Metro)
The Orange Line of the Washington Metro consists of 26 rapid transit stations from Vienna to New Carrollton. It has stations in Fairfax County and Arlington, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County, Maryland. Half of the line's stations are shared with the Blue Line, and over...
Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
train during the afternoon rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
of January 13, 1982, in Downtown Washington, D.C. in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The train derailed
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
as it was being backed-up from an improperly closed rail switch between the Federal Triangle
Federal Triangle (Washington Metro)
Federal Triangle is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Downtown Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Providing service for both the Blue and Orange Lines, the station's entrance...
and Smithsonian
Smithsonian (Washington Metro)
Smithsonian is a side platformed Washington Metro station at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
stations, and caused the deaths of three passengers. Several survivors were trapped for hours, and 25 were injured. The incident marked the first resulting in a fatality involving the Metro system and remained as the deadliest incident occurring in the system until the June 22, 2009 collision that resulted in nine fatalities.
Overview
At 4:29 p.m. EDT (20:29 UTC) on Wednesday, January 13, 1982, an eastbound train (Train 410) on the Orange Line derailedDerailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
while backing up from an improperly closed rail switch called the Smithsonian Interlocking. The derailment occurred after the front wheelset followed one track and the rear wheelset followed another, after the train entered a track normally used to switch trains between the parallel tracks. The resulting derailment saw the train move in a diagonal fashion for 150 feet (45.7 m) before coming to a stop just east of the Federal Triangle
Federal Triangle (Washington Metro)
Federal Triangle is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Downtown Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Providing service for both the Blue and Orange Lines, the station's entrance...
station. Due to its occurrence during the evening rush hour, 1,200 persons were reportedly aboard the train. The accident resulted in three fatalities and 25 injured. Both Orange and Blue Line
Blue Line (Washington Metro)
The Blue Line of the Washington Metro in the United States consists of 27 rapid transit stations from Franconia–Springfield to Largo Town Center. It has stations in Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County, Maryland...
service was suspended between McPherson Square
McPherson Square (Washington Metro)
McPherson Square is a side platformed Washington Metro station in Downtown Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
and the Federal Center SW
Federal Center SW (Washington Metro)
Federal Center SW is an island platformed Washington Metro station in an area of Southwest known as the Southwest Federal Center in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
stations. The response to the incident was slowed due to emergency personnel already responding to the crash of Air Florida Flight 90
Air Florida Flight 90
Air Florida Flight 90 was a scheduled U.S. domestic passenger flight from Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia, to Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a stopover at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida...
into the 14th Street Bridge thirty minutes earlier. Full service along the Metro did not reopen until the evening of January 15 following the removal of the wreckage from the tunnel.
Aftermath
Following the investigations during the months following the incident, the NTSB and WMATA officials attributed the accident to operator error. The investigation revealed that a Metro supervisor committed 11 errors, including failing to properly monitor the malfunctioning switch responsible for the derailment itself, and the train operator failed protocol after passing through the switch. Additional failures occurred at the Metro control center relating to the derailment as well. Additionally, Metro evaluated reinforcing the train vehicles with additional steel in order to provide for greater protection from side impacts in the cars.Prior to the accident, Metro policy called for passengers to remain in the cars until rescue personnel arrived. This was based on concerns posed by the 750-volt third rail that powers the trains in addition to possible abuse by pranksters. Following the incident, Metro reversed its policy and by 1985 began the installation of emergency handles to allow passengers to escape a car in the event of fire.