Silver Line Metro Mess Friday Means Riders Get Refund

Were you a Blue, Orange or Silver line Metro rider caught in delays Friday for the second day in a row this week?

Then you may be eligible for a SmarTrip card credit.

Metro Interim General Manager/CEO Jack Requa says the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority will issue a credit to all riders using Smartrip cards who traveled on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines today.

Each rider who used a SmarTrip card to enter and exit the system and traveled on the Blue, Orange or Silver lines between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday will automatically receive a credit on their card for the fare they were charged at the gates. Qualifying riders will receive the credit on their SmarTrip card early next week when they tap their card at a Metro faregate or fare machine.

The credits will be processed automatically to SmarTrip cards, no action is required by customers to receive the credit.

“We absolutely understand the frustration among our Blue, Orange and Silver line customers,” said Requa. “Given the significant service disruptions that inconvenienced riders over multiple commutes this week, we are taking this step to thank everyone for bearing with us. I also offer a sincere apology to everyone who was inconvenienced.”

On Thursday, Blue, Silver and Orange lines were in chaos during morning rush hours after an empty train car derailed near Smithsonian station. That was followed by single tracking through the afternoon and evening, resulting in evening rush delays.

Friday, Orange and Silver line service was disrupted due to a loss of third-rail power on the inbound track outside East Falls Church Station, says Metro. The passengers aboard a Silver Line train in the area without power had to be assisted by emergency responders to East Falls Church Station.

Rail service was suspended for about 30 minutes and then followed by single tracking until just before noon, says Metro.