Metro Safety Chief Says Aging Rail Fastener Led to Smoke on Red Line

The Metro chief safety officer at a Board Safety Committee Meeting said smoke incidents near Gallery Place and Metro Center stations in the last two weeks resulted from rail fasteners that are wearing out.

Metro Chief Safety Officer Pat Lavin said a stray electric current arced off a rail fastener, causing smoke near Metro Center Station Thursday morning. Lavin said the arcing occurred because the rubber coating of the aging rail fasteners was wearing thin, exposing the metal of the fastener to the stray current.

Metro will in a few months begin a rail fastener replacement program. Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said the fastener replacement program was connected to preventative maintenance.