This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-to-announce-sunday-afternoon-whether-it-will-reopen-monday/2016/01/24/76422a4a-c2ab-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Metro to announce Sunday afternoon whether it will reopen Monday | Metro to announce Sunday afternoon whether it will reopen Monday |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Metro said it plans to announce Sunday afternoon whether it will reopen for Monday’s start of the work week — and spokesman Dan Stessel did not sound confident that ready-to-go commuters will be happy with the news. | Metro said it plans to announce Sunday afternoon whether it will reopen for Monday’s start of the work week — and spokesman Dan Stessel did not sound confident that ready-to-go commuters will be happy with the news. |
| “We’re still assessing things, but the effects of the storm are likely to be felt for days,” Stessel said just after 9 a.m. Sunday. Whatever rail and bus service is available Monday, if any, “will not be normal,” he said. | “We’re still assessing things, but the effects of the storm are likely to be felt for days,” Stessel said just after 9 a.m. Sunday. Whatever rail and bus service is available Monday, if any, “will not be normal,” he said. |
| On issue is clearing snow from Metro’s 130 miles of outdoor tracks, running in two directions. Stessel said several diesel-powered “prime movers,” or large rail cars, have been plowing snow since the storm began Friday night, but “we’ve still got a lot of work to do.” Hundreds of workers have been removing snow from stations, but, as of Sunday morning, some platforms and outdoor escalators remained buried. | On issue is clearing snow from Metro’s 130 miles of outdoor tracks, running in two directions. Stessel said several diesel-powered “prime movers,” or large rail cars, have been plowing snow since the storm began Friday night, but “we’ve still got a lot of work to do.” Hundreds of workers have been removing snow from stations, but, as of Sunday morning, some platforms and outdoor escalators remained buried. |
| Of Metro’s fleet of 1,100-plus subway cars, only 356 were moved into the transit system’s idle tunnels for the weekend, Stessel said. | Of Metro’s fleet of 1,100-plus subway cars, only 356 were moved into the transit system’s idle tunnels for the weekend, Stessel said. |
| [Live updates as the region digs out from the blizzard] | |
| Although the transit agency on Friday had spoken of sheltering about 900 rail cars in the tunnels, it turned out not to be possible “for a lot of technical reasons,” Stessel said. Numerous cars were moved out of the elements and into rail-yard garages, but many others are encased in snow and need to be shoveled out Sunday, he said. | Although the transit agency on Friday had spoken of sheltering about 900 rail cars in the tunnels, it turned out not to be possible “for a lot of technical reasons,” Stessel said. Numerous cars were moved out of the elements and into rail-yard garages, but many others are encased in snow and need to be shoveled out Sunday, he said. |
| In removing snow, one major focus are parts of the rail system known as “interlockings.” These are groups of rail switches located at outdoor points where rail lines divide or converge. There are three big interlockings: near the Stadium-Armory station, involving the Orange, Blue and Silver lines; near the East Falls Church station, involving the Orange and Silver; and near the King Street-Old Town station, involving the Blue and Yellow lines. | In removing snow, one major focus are parts of the rail system known as “interlockings.” These are groups of rail switches located at outdoor points where rail lines divide or converge. There are three big interlockings: near the Stadium-Armory station, involving the Orange, Blue and Silver lines; near the East Falls Church station, involving the Orange and Silver; and near the King Street-Old Town station, involving the Blue and Yellow lines. |
| The outdoor groups of switches at those locations are almost constantly in operation, as trains pass by every few minutes, headed in different directions, Stessel said There are scores of other switches all along the rail system that are used less frequently — for example, when a train needs to be moved from one track to a parallel track to avoid an unexpected obstacle. | The outdoor groups of switches at those locations are almost constantly in operation, as trains pass by every few minutes, headed in different directions, Stessel said There are scores of other switches all along the rail system that are used less frequently — for example, when a train needs to be moved from one track to a parallel track to avoid an unexpected obstacle. |
| Although the switches are equipped with heaters, “they’re really not designed for two feet of snow,” Stessel said. Not only do workers with tools have to remove the snow and ice, he said, they have to clear a wide area, to prevent snow from blowing back onto the switches. | Although the switches are equipped with heaters, “they’re really not designed for two feet of snow,” Stessel said. Not only do workers with tools have to remove the snow and ice, he said, they have to clear a wide area, to prevent snow from blowing back onto the switches. |
| Stessel said Metro expects to announce its plan for Monday before D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser holds her 5 p.m. news briefing Sunday. He said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld will attend the briefing and explain Metro’s status. | Stessel said Metro expects to announce its plan for Monday before D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser holds her 5 p.m. news briefing Sunday. He said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld will attend the briefing and explain Metro’s status. |