Just in time for Halloween, DC Metro officials have brought older railcars back from the dead to help with service delays, while teams investigate the 7000-series cars pulled from their fleet following a Blue Line derailment nearly two weeks ago. Many of the rail cars feature a throwback look of red seats and carpet.
The 7000-series cars account for 60% of Metro's fleet and on Friday WMATA officials announced that the delays would continue through at least the end of the month. Officials told 7News earlier this week that it expected to have an extra 6000 and 2000-series railcars available next week to help with the slow service. Currently, there are 16 6000-series cars and 18 2000-series cars in service.
So expect to see more of those "vintage" cars on the lines next week.
This hasn't gone unnoticed by DC metro riders.
"Dang they dusted off the DC Metro cars with carpet," tweeted Susan Stumme.
A Reddit user posted" Metro really is pulling every old car into service right now. How old is this thing? Red seats and carpet??"
Metro riders have been dealing with long wait times and packed cars all week. Traffic has gotten worse in the DC metro area too as some riders choose to drive to their destinations instead.
Last week, 187 people were evacuated after a Blue Line train partially derailed inside a tunnel during the Tuesday evening commute. Just one car was affected by the derailment, and there were about 25 people on that car. On Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board the same train had derailed two other times the same day just hours before the final derailment.
NTSB also revealed previously unreported safety problem with Metro’s newest 7000-series trains that has grown significantly worse over the last year. While investigating last week's Blue Line derailment, investigators learned that the fourth axle of the derailed railcar was "out of compliance with the 7000 Series specifications for the wheel and axle assembly."